Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

ज्ञानशक्तिबलैश्वर्यवीर्यतेजांस्यशेषतः । भगवच्छब्दवाच्यानि विना हेयैर्गुणादिभिः ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

jñānaśaktibalaiśvaryavīryatejāṃsyaśeṣataḥ | bhagavacchabdavācyāni vinā heyairguṇādibhiḥ || 22 ||

Translation

Vollkommene Erkenntnis, Macht, Stärke, Herrschaft, Tapferkeit und Glanz—ohne jeden Rest—das bezeichnet das Wort „Bhagavān“; und dies gilt nur, wenn diese Eigenschaften frei sind von allen tadelnswerten Makeln und dergleichen.

Word by Word

• ज्ञान-शक्ति-बल-ऐश्वर्य-वीर्य-तेजांसि: knowledge, power, strength, lordship, vigor, and splendor
• ज्ञान-शक्ति-बल-ऐश्वर्य-वीर्य-तेजांसि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + बल (प्रातिपदिक) + ऐश्वर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective copulative)

• अशेषतः: entirely; without remainder
• अशेषतः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अशेषतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• भगवत्-शब्द-वाच्यानि: denotable by the word ‘Bhagavat’
• भगवत्-शब्द-वाच्यानि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक) + शब्द (प्रातिपदिक) + वाच्य (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: भगवतः शब्दः (genitive) + तत्पुरुष: शब्देन वाच्यानि (instrumental sense)

• विना: without
• विना: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपसर्गसदृश-निपात (prepositional particle) governing तृतीया/पञ्चमी usage; here with तृतीया

• हेयैः: with/through (things) to be rejected
• हेयैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हेय (प्रातिपदिक; √हा त्याजने से ‘to be abandoned’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), बहुवचन

• गुण-आदिभिः: by qualities and the like
• गुण-आदिभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: गुणाः आदयः यस्य/ये (and the like)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in Moksha Dharma context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavan
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It defines “Bhagavān” as the Supreme who possesses the six divine excellences in perfection and is entirely free from any defect—clarifying the object of realization and devotion in Moksha Dharma.

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

Bhakti becomes steady when the devotee understands the Lord as supremely complete and faultless; devotion is directed to Vishnu/Bhagavan whose attributes are limitless and untouched by impurity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A key Nirukta-style principle is implied: precise definition by etymological/semantic markers—here, identifying what the term “Bhagavān” properly denotes (lakṣaṇa) and excluding improper meanings (doṣa/heyatva).