Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 71

Yamapatha (The Road of Yama), Dāna-Phala, and the Imperishable Fruition of Karma

Devanagari script

योऽसौ विश्वंभरो देवो गुणमेदव्यवस्थितः । सूजत्यवति चात्त्येतत्सर्वं सर्वभुगव्ययः ॥ ७१ ॥

Transliteration

yo'sau viśvaṃbharo devo guṇamedavyavasthitaḥ | sūjatyavati cāttyetatsarvaṃ sarvabhugavyayaḥ || 71 ||

Translation

那位负载宇宙之神，安住于诸古那的多重安立之中，创造此一切世界，护持之，亦复摄回——祂是遍享一切、不可毁坏的不灭主宰。

Word by Word

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (यद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• asau: that (one)
• asau: Karta (कर्ता) / apposition
• Type: Noun
• Root: adas (अदस् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; deictic

• viśvaṃ-bharaḥ: supporter of the universe
• viśvaṃ-bharaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viśva (विश्व) + bhara (भर)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; qualifying devaḥ

• devaḥ: the Lord/god
• devaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (देव प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• guṇa-meda-vyavasthitaḥ: established in qualities (and meda)
• guṇa-meda-vyavasthitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: guṇa (गुण) + meda (मेद) + vyavasthita (व्यवस्थित)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound (multi-member); Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; qualifying devaḥ; sense: established in guṇas and medas (as per reading)

• sūjati: creates/generates
• sūjati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sū (सू धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्, present), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• avati: protects
• avati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: av (अव् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्, present), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), conjunction (समुच्चय)

• atti: consumes/destroys
• atti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ad (अद् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्, present), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• etat: this
• etat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (एतद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• sarvam: all (of it)
• sarvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (सर्व प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; in apposition to etat

• sarva-bhuk: enjoyer of all
• sarva-bhuk: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (सर्व) + bhuj (भुज् धातु)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Kṛdanta agent noun (कृदन्त, क्विप्/उणादि sense), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; qualifying devaḥ

• avyayaḥ: imperishable
• avyayaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: avyaya (अव्यय प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; qualifying devaḥ

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the creation/doctrine context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)

Characters & Entities

• Deva
• Ishvara (Supreme Lord)
• Guṇas (Sattva-Rajas-Tamas)

FAQs

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

It identifies the Supreme Lord as the single source behind creation, preservation, and dissolution, urging the seeker to rely on the imperishable Ishvara rather than transient worldly forms.

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

By portraying God as the universal sustainer and inner ruler who governs the guṇas, it supports bhakti as surrender to the one Lord who alone remains unchanged through all cosmic cycles.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse is primarily doctrinal rather than technical; its practical takeaway is a sāttvika orientation—cultivating clarity and devotion by understanding guṇa-dynamics that shape behavior and spiritual practice.