Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 28

Threefold Suffering, Twofold Knowledge, and the Definition of Bhagavān (Vāsudeva); Prelude to Keśidhvaja–Janaka Yoga

Devanagari script

समस्तकल्याणगुणं गुणात्मको हित्वातिदुःखावृतभूतसर्गः । इच्छागृहीताभिमतोरुदेहः संसाधिताशेषजगद्धितोऽसौ ॥ २७ ॥

Transliteration

samastakalyāṇaguṇaṃ guṇātmako hitvātiduḥkhāvṛtabhūtasargaḥ | icchāgṛhītābhimatorudehaḥ saṃsādhitāśeṣajagaddhito'sau || 27 ||

Translation

هو جوهرُ جميعِ الخصالِ المباركة، وسيّدُ الصفات. وإن كانت الخليقةُ المتجسّدةُ محجوبةً بأشدّ الآلام، فإنه بإرادته يتخذُ الجسدَ العظيمَ الذي يختاره، ويُتمّ خيرَ الكونِ كلّه.

Word by Word

• samasta-kalyāṇa-guṇam: all auspicious qualities
• samasta-kalyāṇa-guṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samasta (प्रातिपदिक) + kalyāṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); समस्त-कल्याण-गुणम् = ‘all-auspicious-qualities’ (determinative)

• guṇa-ātmakaḥ: whose essence is (all) virtues
• guṇa-ātmakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ātmaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘having the nature of qualities’

• hitvā: having abandoned
• hitvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: hā (धाातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), ‘having abandoned’

• ati-duḥkha-āvṛta-bhūta-sargaḥ: (he) whose creation of beings was covered by extreme sorrow
• ati-duḥkha-āvṛta-bhūta-sargaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ati (अव्यय) + duḥkha (प्रातिपदिक) + āvṛta (कृदन्त, क्त) + bhūta (प्रातिपदिक) + sarga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Nominative, Singular; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः: ‘creation of beings (bhūta-sarga) covered (āvṛta) by excessive sorrow (ati-duḥkha)’

• icchā-gṛhīta-abhimata-uru-dehaḥ: having a vast body assumed by will as desired
• icchā-gṛhīta-abhimata-uru-dehaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: icchā (प्रातिपदिक) + gṛhīta (कृदन्त, क्त) + abhimata (प्रातिपदिक) + uru (प्रातिपदिक) + deha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Nominative, Singular; ‘one whose great body was assumed by will, as desired’

• saṃsādhita-aśeṣa-jagat-hitaḥ: who has accomplished the good of the whole world
• saṃsādhita-aśeṣa-jagat-hitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃsādhita (कृदन्त, क्त; √sādh) + aśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + jagat (प्रातिपदिक) + hita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Nominative, Singular; ‘one who has accomplished the welfare of the entire world’

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Nominative, Singular; pronoun

• asau: that (one), he
• asau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adas (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Nominative, Singular; demonstrative pronoun

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in Moksha Dharma context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme (Vishnu) as intrinsically auspicious and compassionate: even while beings experience suffering in saṁsāra, the Lord freely manifests by His will to accomplish the welfare (jagad-hita) of all.

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

By portraying the Lord as the embodiment of kalyāṇa-guṇas who deliberately takes a chosen form for the world’s good, the verse supports bhakti as trustful surrender to His benevolent intent and saving presence.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is directly taught; the practical takeaway is theological: the doctrine of īśvara-icchā (divine will) and avatāra-like manifestation for loka-saṅgraha (universal welfare).