Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 151

Mokṣopāya: Bhakti-rooted Jñāna and the Aṣṭāṅga Yoga of Viṣṇu-Meditation

Devanagari script

विशुद्दमक्षरं नित्यं पूर्णमाकाशमध्यगम् । आनन्दं निर्मलशांतं परं ब्रह्मेति गीयते ॥ ५१ ॥

Transliteration

viśuddamakṣaraṃ nityaṃ pūrṇamākāśamadhyagam | ānandaṃ nirmalaśāṃtaṃ paraṃ brahmeti gīyate || 51 ||

Translation

পরম ব্রহ্মকে বলা হয় পরিশুদ্ধ, অক্ষয়, নিত্য, পূর্ণ ও সর্বব্যাপী—আকাশবিস্তারে অধিষ্ঠিত—আনন্দস্বরূপ, নির্মল ও পরম শান্ত।

Word by Word

• विशुद्धम्: perfectly pure
• विशुद्धम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• अक्षरम्: the imperishable (reality)
• अक्षरम्: कर्म/प्रत्ययार्थ (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• नित्यम्: eternal
• नित्यम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• पूर्णम्: complete, full
• पूर्णम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• आकाशमध्यगम्: dwelling in the midst of space
• आकाशमध्यगम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आकाश (प्रातिपदिक) + मध्य (प्रातिपदिक) + ग (गम् धातु + ड/अच्, कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (आकाशस्य मध्ये गम् = स्थितम्)

• आनन्दम्: bliss
• आनन्दम्: विशेषण/प्रत्ययार्थ (Appositional)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आनन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• निर्मलशान्तम्: spotless and peaceful
• निर्मलशान्तम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्मल (प्रातिपदिक) + शान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (निर्मलं च शान्तं च)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• ब्रह्म: Brahman
• ब्रह्म: कर्म/प्रत्ययार्थ (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: वाक्यसम्बन्ध (Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरणार्थक अव्यय (quotative)

• गीयते: is sung/celebrated
• गीयते: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गै (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a jnana-upadesha dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

Characters & Entities

• Brahman

FAQs

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

It gives a concise Vedantic lakṣaṇa (definition) of the Supreme—pure, imperishable, eternal, all-pervading, blissful, and serene—pointing the seeker toward Brahman-realization as the ground of mokṣa.

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

By describing Brahman as blissful and supremely peaceful, it provides the contemplative object for devotion: bhakti matures into steady remembrance and surrender to the all-pervading, stainless Absolute (often understood in the Purana as realized through Vishnu-centered devotion in broader context).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; instead it reflects Vedānta-style doctrinal vocabulary (akṣara, nitya, pūrṇa, ānanda, śānti) used for meditative inquiry and philosophical discernment.