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Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4

Bhakti-Śraddhā-Ācāra-Māhātmya and the Commencement of the Mārkaṇḍeya Narrative

यथा समस्त लोकानां जीवनं सलिलं स्मृतम् । तथा समस्तसिद्धीनां जीवनं भक्तिरिष्यते ॥ ४ ॥

yathā samasta lokānāṃ jīvanaṃ salilaṃ smṛtam | tathā samastasiddhīnāṃ jīvanaṃ bhaktiriṣyate || 4 ||

正如水被忆念为一切世界的生命,同样,奉爱(bhakti)被尊为一切悉地(siddhi,灵性成就)的生命。

yathāJust as
yathā:
None
TypeIndeclinable
Rootyathā (अव्यय)
FormAdverb (क्रियाविशेषण)
samastalokānāmof all worlds
samastalokānām:
Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootsamastaloka (समस्तलोक)
FormMasculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural
jīvanamlife
jīvanam:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootjīvana (जीवन)
FormNeuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular
salilamwater
salilam:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता) - Predicate Nominative
TypeNoun
Rootsalila (सलिल)
FormNeuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular
smṛtamis considered/remembered
smṛtam:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootsmṛ (स्मृ)
FormPast Passive Participle (Kta Pratyaya), Neuter, Nominative, Singular
tathāso/in that way
tathā:
None
TypeIndeclinable
Roottathā (अव्यय)
FormAdverb (क्रियाविशेषण)
samastasiddhīnāmof all perfections/achievements
samastasiddhīnām:
Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootsamastasiddhi (समस्तसिद्धि)
FormFeminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural
jīvanamlife/essence
jīvanam:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootjīvana (जीवन)
FormNeuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular
bhaktiḥdevotion
bhaktiḥ:
Karma (Object/कर्म) in Passive construction
TypeNoun
Rootbhakti (भक्ति)
FormFeminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular
iṣyateis desired/accepted
iṣyate:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootiṣ (इष्)
FormPassive (Karmani), Present Tense (Lat), 3rd Person, Singular

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata: none

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

It declares bhakti to be the sustaining essence behind every true spiritual attainment—just as water sustains life—implying that siddhis without devotion are incomplete or spiritually hollow.

By using a universal metaphor (water and life), it teaches that devotion is not optional or secondary; it is the vital principle that gives power, purity, and right direction to all achievements on the spiritual path.

No specific Vedanga (Śikṣā, Vyākaraṇa, Chandas, Nirukta, Jyotiṣa, Kalpa) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is prioritizing devotional practice as the foundation for any disciplined sādhanā.