Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 32

Sanatkumāra’s Bhāgavata Tantra: Tattvas, Māyā-Bonds, Embodiment, and the Necessity of Dīkṣā

Devanagari script

प्रसरश्चाप्यभावेन तत्त्वं चैतत्सदाशिवम् । दृक्शक्तिर्यत्र न्यग्भूता क्रियाशक्तिर्विशिष्यते ॥ ३२ ॥

Transliteration

prasaraścāpyabhāvena tattvaṃ caitatsadāśivam | dṛkśaktiryatra nyagbhūtā kriyāśaktirviśiṣyate || 32 ||

Translation

当向外的扩展（prasara）不现时，此本原则名为常住湿婆（Sadāśiva）；于彼处，清净观照之力（dṛk-śakti）退居其次，而行动之力（kriyā-śakti）为最胜。

Word by Word

• prasaraḥ: expansion/emanation
• prasaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prasara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) meaning 'also/even'

• abhāvena: by absence / through non-being
• abhāvena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: abhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• tattvam: the principle
• tattvam: Karta (कर्ता) / Uddeśya (उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• etat: this
• etat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative used adjectivally

• sadā-śivam: Sadāśiva
• sadā-śivam: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sadā (अव्यय) + śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय: 'ever-auspicious' as name/title

• dṛk-śaktiḥ: the power of perception
• dṛk-śaktiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dṛk (प्रातिपदिक) + śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'power of vision/perception'

• yatra: where
• yatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Relative adverb (सम्बन्धबोधक अव्यय) 'where'

• nyag-bhūtā: having become subordinate
• nyag-bhūtā: Kriyā (क्रिया) / Predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni- (उपसर्ग) + √bhū (भू धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past participle (क्त-कृदन्त), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); 'become low/subordinate'

• kriyā-śaktiḥ: the power of action
• kriyā-śaktiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kriyā (प्रातिपदिक) + śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'power of action'

• viśiṣyate: is distinguished/excels
• viśiṣyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi + √śiṣ (शिष्/शेष् धातु; 'to be distinguished/excel')
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Sadashiva

FAQs

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

It defines the Sadāśiva principle as a subtle state where outward manifestation is restrained, and the cosmos is understood through the dominance of kriyā-śakti (the potency to initiate action/manifestation) over mere witnessing.

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

By presenting Sadāśiva as an inner, subtle reality of divine potency, it supports bhakti as contemplation of the Lord’s śakti—recognizing that divine action (grace, revelation, protection) is not separate from the supreme principle.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It aligns with technical śāstric analysis (tattva-nirūpaṇa) used in Vedāṅga-informed traditions—careful definition of terms like śakti and tattva, supporting precise doctrinal understanding rather than ritual instruction.