Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 22

The Greatness of Viṣṇu

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

Devanagari script

सद्रू पं तमसद्रू पं सदसद्रू पमव्ययम् । तत्तद्विलक्षणं श्रेष्ठं श्रेष्ठाच्छ्रेष्ठतरं भजे ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

sadrū paṃ tamasadrū paṃ sadasadrū pamavyayam | tattadvilakṣaṇaṃ śreṣṭhaṃ śreṣṭhācchreṣṭhataraṃ bhaje || 22 ||

Translation

মই সেই অব্যয় পৰম তত্ত্বৰ ভজন কৰোঁ—যি সৎ-ৰূপো, আৰু অসৎ-অতীতো; সৎ-অসৎ উভয়ৰূপ হৈয়ো সকলো বৰ্ণনাৰ পৰা বিলক্ষণ; শ্ৰেষ্ঠ, আৰু শ্ৰেষ্ঠতকৈও শ্ৰেষ্ঠতৰ।

Word by Word

• sat-rūpam: having the form of being/real
• sat-rūpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Accusative, Singular; adjectival)

• tamasat-rūpam: having the form of darkness/non-being
• tamasat-rūpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tamasat (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• sat-asat-rūpam: having the form of both being and non-being
• sat-asat-rūpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक) + asat (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• avyayam: imperishable
• avyayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-vyaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• tat-tat-vilakṣaṇam: distinct from each of those
• tat-tat-vilakṣaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + tat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + vilakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• śreṣṭham: supreme/excellent
• śreṣṭham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• śreṣṭhāt: than the best
• śreṣṭhāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (अपादान), एकवचन; तुलनार्थक (Ablative singular; comparative base: 'than the best')

• śreṣṭhataraṃ: still superior
• śreṣṭhataraṃ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śreṣṭha-tara (प्रातिपदिक; तरप् प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण, तुलनात्मक (Neuter, Accusative, Singular; comparative)

• bhaje: I worship/seek
• bhaje: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhaj (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (Present indicative, 1st person singular, Parasmaipada)

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

FAQs

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

It points to the Supreme as avyaya (imperishable) and beyond limiting categories like “existent” or “nonexistent,” directing the seeker to worship the transcendent Reality as the highest refuge.

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

Bhakti here is defined as bhajana—single-pointed worship of the Supreme who transcends all conceptual opposites; devotion is offered not to a limited idea, but to the unsurpassed Lord (śreṣṭhāc chreṣṭhatara).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse is primarily Vedantic rather than procedural; it uses precise semantic distinctions (sat/asat/vilakṣaṇa) akin to disciplined Vyākaraṇa-style clarity, training the mind to avoid rigid conceptual extremes in spiritual inquiry.