Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 48

Janaka Instructs Śuka: Āśrama-Sequence, Guru-Dependence, and Marks of Liberation

Devanagari script

यत्फलं ब्राह्मणस्येह मोक्षार्थश्चापदात्मकः । तस्मिन्वै वर्तसे विप्रकिमन्यत्परिपृच्छसि ॥ ४८ ॥

Transliteration

yatphalaṃ brāhmaṇasyeha mokṣārthaścāpadātmakaḥ | tasminvai vartase viprakimanyatparipṛcchasi || 48 ||

Translation

婆罗门于此所求之果——以解脱为旨、以修持之律为本——你已在其中行持，噢博学者。既如此，你还要问什么呢？

Word by Word

• yat-phalam: that fruit (which)
• yat-phalam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), Prathamā (Nominative, 1st), Ekavacana (Singular); tatpuruṣa: ‘yat phalam’ (the fruit which/that fruit)

• brāhmaṇasya: of a Brahmin
• brāhmaṇasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Ṣaṣṭhī (Genitive, 6th), Ekavacana (Singular)

• iha: here
• iha: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Adverbial location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: Deśa-kāla-avyaya (adverb: here/in this world)

• mokṣa-arthaḥ: aimed at liberation
• mokṣa-arthaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mokṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Prathamā (Nominative, 1st), Ekavacana (Singular); caturthī-tatpuruṣa sense: ‘mokṣāya arthaḥ’ (aim for liberation)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-avayava (conjunction/समुच्चय)

• āpada-ātmakaḥ: having the nature of hardship/discipline
• āpada-ātmakaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āpada (प्रातिपदिक) + ātmaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Prathamā (Nominative, 1st), Ekavacana (Singular); tatpuruṣa: ‘āpada-rūpaḥ/āpada-svarūpaḥ’ (consisting in adversity/discipline)

• tasmin: in that (path/state)
• tasmin: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga/napuṃsaka (contextual), Saptamī (Locative, 7th), Ekavacana (Singular)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta (particle for emphasis/वै)

• vartase: you abide / you are engaged
• vartase: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vṛt (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present), Ātmanepada, Madhyama-puruṣa (2nd person), Ekavacana (Singular)

• vipra: O Brahmin
• vipra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Sambodhana (Vocative), Ekavacana (Singular)

• kim: what?
• kim: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), Dvitīyā (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana (Singular); interrogative pronoun

• anyat: other
• anyat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of kim)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), Dvitīyā (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana (Singular)

• paripṛcchasi: you ask (further)
• paripṛcchasi: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-√prach (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present), Parasmaipada, Madhyama-puruṣa (2nd person), Ekavacana (Singular)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (addressing Narada or a qualified vipra-seeker in the Moksha-dharma dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

FAQs

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

It affirms that the true “fruit” of a brāhmaṇa life is liberation, and that sincere engagement in mokṣa-oriented discipline itself is the fulfillment—reducing needless doubt and encouraging steady practice.

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

While the verse speaks in mokṣa-dharma terms, its thrust supports bhakti too: once one is firmly established in the liberating path (such as remembrance, surrender, and disciplined living), progress comes from constancy rather than endless questioning.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is ethical-spiritual observance (ācāra/niyama) oriented to mokṣa—steady adherence over mere intellectual inquiry.