Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 154

Pāpa-bheda, Naraka-yātanā, Mahāpātaka-vicāra, Atonement Limits, Daśa-vidhā Bhakti, and Gaṅgā as Final Remedy

Devanagari script

सर्वागमानामाचारः प्रथमं परिकल्पते । आचारप्रभवो धर्मो धर्मस्य प्रभुरच्युतः ॥ १५४ ॥

Transliteration

sarvāgamānāmācāraḥ prathamaṃ parikalpate | ācāraprabhavo dharmo dharmasya prabhuracyutaḥ || 154 ||

Translation

于一切阿伽摩（āgama，圣典）之中，正行（ācāra）先被确立为最上根基。由行持而生法（dharma）；而法之主宰乃是不堕者阿周陀（Acyuta，即毗湿奴）。

Word by Word

• sarva-āgamānām: of all scriptures/traditions
• sarva-āgamānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + āgama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (सर्वे आगमाः)

• ācāraḥ: conduct/practice
• ācāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ācāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• prathamam: first/primarily
• prathamam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prathama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक-एकवचन-द्वितीया (adverbial accusative)

• parikalpate: is laid down
• parikalpate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-kḷp (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; ‘is prescribed/arranged’

• ācāra-prabhavaḥ: arising from conduct
• ācāra-prabhavaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ācāra (प्रातिपदिक) + prabhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (आचारात् प्रभवः = arising from conduct)

• dharmaḥ: dharma
• dharmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• dharmasya: of dharma
• dharmasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• prabhuḥ: lord/master
• prabhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• acyutaḥ: Acyuta (Vishnu)
• acyutaḥ: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण/अप्पोज़िशन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: acyuta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विष्णोर्नाम

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

Characters & Entities

• Acyuta
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It grounds spirituality in lived practice: scriptures are fulfilled through ācāra, dharma is born from disciplined conduct, and its ultimate source and governor is Acyuta (Viṣṇu).

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

By identifying Acyuta as the lord of dharma, the verse implies that righteous living culminates in orientation toward Viṣṇu—making devotion the inner end of ethical and ritual life.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes applied śāstra—ācāra as the operational standard for dharma—supporting the Vedāṅga spirit of correct procedure (kalpa/ritual discipline) and proper conduct aligned with scriptural injunctions.