Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 73

The Exposition of Spiritual Knowledge

Jñāna-pradarśanam

Devanagari script

य इमं पठतेऽध्यायं शृणुयाद्वा समाहितः । स कर्मपाशविच्छेदं प्राप्य सौख्यमवाप्नुयात् ॥ ७३ ॥

Transliteration

ya imaṃ paṭhate'dhyāyaṃ śṛṇuyādvā samāhitaḥ | sa karmapāśavicchedaṃ prāpya saukhyamavāpnuyāt || 73 ||

Translation

凡以摄心专注诵读此章，或仅恭听者，皆能斩断业力之缚，由此获得安乐与福祉。

Word by Word

• yaḥ: who (he who)
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• imam: this
• imam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• paṭhati: reads
• paṭhati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: paṭh (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्/Present), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Prathama-puruṣa (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• adhyāyam: chapter
• adhyāyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhyāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• śṛṇuyāt: should listen
• śṛṇuyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/Optative), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Prathama-puruṣa (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Vikalpa-avyaya (विकल्प/particle), disjunctive ‘or’

• samāhitaḥ: composed, attentive
• samāhitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-ā-dhā (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: Kta-participle (क्त/PPP), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); used adjectivally

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• karmapāśavicchedam: cutting of the bonds of karma
• karmapāśavicchedam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karma (प्रातिपदिक) + pāśa (प्रातिपदिक) + viccheda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa: karmapāśānāṃ vicchedaḥ (‘cutting of the bonds of karma’)

• prāpya: having attained
• prāpya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pra-āp (धातु) + lyap (कृत्)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त), avyaya usage; ‘having obtained’

• saukhyam: happiness, ease
• saukhyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saukhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• avāpnuyāt: should obtain
• avāpnuyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava-āp (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/Optative), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Prathama-puruṣa (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a didactic phalaśruti style within the Narada Purana narration)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It presents a phalaśruti: attentive recitation or hearing of the teaching is itself a sādhana that weakens and severs karmic bondage, leading toward inner well-being and liberation-oriented happiness.

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

It emphasizes śravaṇa (devotional hearing) and pāṭha/svādhyāya (recitation) done with samāhita-citta (focused mind), a core bhakti practice that purifies karma and supports steady devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The practical takeaway is disciplined svādhyāya and correct oral reception (śravaṇa) of scripture—skills supported by Śikṣā (phonetics) and Vyākaraṇa (grammar) to preserve accurate recitation and meaning.