Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 31

Sanatkumāra’s Bhāgavata Tantra: Tattvas, Māyā-Bonds, Embodiment, and the Necessity of Dīkṣā

Devanagari script

तच्छक्तितत्त्वं विप्रेंद्र प्रोक्तं सावयवं परम् । ततो ज्ञानक्रियाशक्त्योस्तथोत्कर्षापकर्षयोः ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

tacchaktitattvaṃ vipreṃdra proktaṃ sāvayavaṃ param | tato jñānakriyāśaktyostathotkarṣāpakarṣayoḥ || 31 ||

Translation

Hỡi bậc tối thượng trong hàng Bà-la-môn, nguyên lý tối thượng của Năng Lực (Śakti-tattva), cùng mọi phần thể của nó, đã được giảng rõ. Nay giáo pháp tiếp tục nói về năng lực của tri thức và hành động, cùng sự thăng giáng (phân bậc) của chúng.

Word by Word

• tat: that
• tat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally

• śakti-tattvam: the principle of Śakti
• śakti-tattvam: Karta (कर्ता) / Uddeśya (उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakti (प्रातिपदिक) + tattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): 'of śakti' + 'tattva'

• vipra-indra: O best of brāhmaṇas
• vipra-indra: Sambodhana (संबोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (संबोधन), Singular (एकवचन); संबोधन-तत्पुरुष: 'chief among brāhmaṇas'

• proktam: has been declared
• proktam: Kriyā (क्रिया) / Predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच् धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with 'śakti-tattvam'

• sa-avayavam: having parts (with constituents)
• sa-avayavam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa- (उपसर्ग/सह) + avayava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय: 'with parts/with constituents'

• param: supreme
• param: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); superlative sense 'supreme'

• tataḥ: thereafter
• tataḥ: Kāla/Anukrama (काल/अनुक्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (अव्यय-क्रियाविशेषण) meaning 'thereafter/from that'

• jñāna-kriyā-śaktyoḥ: of the powers of knowledge and action
• jñāna-kriyā-śaktyoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक) + kriyā (प्रातिपदिक) + śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी), Dual (द्विवचन); द्वन्द्व compound 'jñāna-śakti and kriyā-śakti' with dual ending

• tathā: and likewise
• tathā: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable (अव्यय); connective/adverb 'likewise/and also'

• utkarṣa-apakarṣayoḥ: of elevation and diminution
• utkarṣa-apakarṣayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: utkarṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + apakarṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी), Dual (द्विवचन); द्वन्द्व: 'increase/excellence' and 'decrease/decline'

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching to Narada; ‘viprendra’ as respectful address)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It marks a transition: after defining Śakti-tattva as a supreme principle with distinct aspects, the text turns to how knowledge-power and action-power function in graded ways—key for understanding spiritual progress and limitation.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

Though not explicitly naming bhakti, it frames practice as a harmonizing of inner knowing (jñāna-śakti) and outward disciplined action (kriyā-śakti); bhakti in Purāṇic teaching typically matures when both are refined and rightly oriented toward the Divine.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A technical, śāstra-style classification: distinguishing faculties (knowledge vs action) and their degrees (utkarṣa/apakarṣa). This analytical approach aligns with Vedāṅga-influenced pedagogy used to systematize learning and practice.