Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 25

The Greatness of Viṣṇu

Uttaṅka’s Hymn, Hari’s Manifestation, and the Boon of Bhakti

Devanagari script

यन्नित्यं परमानन्दं परं ब्रह्म सनातनम् । विष्णुसंज्ञं जगद्धाम तमस्मि शरणं गतः ॥ २५ ॥

Transliteration

yannityaṃ paramānandaṃ paraṃ brahma sanātanam | viṣṇusaṃjñaṃ jagaddhāma tamasmi śaraṇaṃ gataḥ || 25 ||

Translation

قد لجأتُ إلى حِماه: الأزليّ، نعيمُ النعيم، البراهمان الأعلى السرمدي؛ المعروف باسم «فيشنو»، وهو مأوى العالم وسنده.

Word by Word

• yat: which/that (whom)
• yat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम (Neuter, Accusative, Singular; relative pronoun)

• nityam: eternal
• nityam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• parama-ānandam: supreme bliss
• parama-ānandam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + ānanda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• param: supreme
• param: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• brahma: Brahman
• brahma: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• sanātanam: everlasting
• sanātanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sanātana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• viṣṇu-saṃjñam: called ‘Vishnu’
• viṣṇu-saṃjñam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃjñā/saṃjña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Accusative, Singular; 'named Viṣṇu')

• jagat-dhāma: abode of the universe
• jagat-dhāma: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक) + dhāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular; 'abode of the world')

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• asmi: I am
• asmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (Present indicative, 1st person singular)

• śaraṇam: refuge
• śaraṇam: Gati/Karma (गति/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; गत्यर्थक-क्रियायाः कर्मवत् प्रयोगे (Neuter, Accusative, Singular; used with 'go' as goal)

• gataḥ: (I have) gone
• gataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु) → gata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘अहम्’ इति कर्तरि (Masculine, Nominative, Singular; 'having gone')

Speaker

Narada (as a devotional declaration within the teaching dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Brahman

FAQs

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

It identifies Vishnu with the highest Brahman—eternal and supremely blissful—and presents śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) as the core spiritual posture leading toward liberation.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as surrender: recognizing Vishnu as the supreme reality and consciously taking Him as one’s sole refuge and support (jagaddhāma).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga technique is taught in this line; the practical takeaway is Vedantic discernment—seeing “Vishnu” as Parabrahman—used to ground mantra, stuti, and daily worship in correct doctrine.