Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 62

The Narration of the Trayodaśī Vow Observed Throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

शंकराय च कालाय कालावयवरूपिणे । अरूपाय विरूपाय सूक्ष्मसूक्ष्माय वै नमः ॥ ६२ ॥

Transliteration

śaṃkarāya ca kālāya kālāvayavarūpiṇe | arūpāya virūpāya sūkṣmasūkṣmāya vai namaḥ || 62 ||

Translation

我至诚顶礼于商羯罗（Śaṅkara），亦即时间者；其形由时间之诸分肢所成。顶礼于彼：无相而超越一切相，微细胜于至微。

Word by Word

• शंकराय: to Śaṅkara
• शंकराय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Dative singular

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Conjunction (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• कालाय: to Time
• कालाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Dative singular

• काल-अवयव-रूपिणे: to the one whose form consists of the parts of time
• काल-अवयव-रूपिणे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक) + अवयव (प्रातिपदिक) + रूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कालस्य अवयवाः—तेषां रूपम् यस्य); रूपिन्-शब्दः (in/possessing form)

• अ-रूपाय: to the formless one
• अ-रूपाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ (नञ्-उपसर्ग/प्रत्यय) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नञ्-समासार्थ (formless); Dative singular

• वि-रूपाय: to the multiform/variform one
• वि-रूपाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वि (उपसर्ग) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपसर्गयुक्त-प्रातिपदिक; Dative singular

• सूक्ष्म-सूक्ष्माय: to the subtlest one
• सूक्ष्म-सूक्ष्माय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूक्ष्म (प्रातिपदिक) + सूक्ष्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति-आधारित कर्मधारय (अतिसूक्ष्मः); Dative singular

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Bhava (भाव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; salutation-usage

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Shankara
• Kala (Time)

FAQs

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

It identifies Śaṅkara with Kāla (Time) and with the subtlest, formless principle—pointing the devotee from visible forms to the transcendental reality that governs change, dissolution, and liberation.

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

By offering repeated salutations (namaḥ) to Śaṅkara as both immanent (Time pervading all events) and transcendent (formless, subtlest), it trains bhakti to mature from image-based worship into contemplative surrender to the Supreme.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse implicitly draws on Jyotiṣa/Vedic time-reckoning concepts (kāla, its divisions/avayavas) to frame theology: Time’s measurable parts are a pointer to the unmeasurable, subtle divine principle.