Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

सर्वाणि तत्र भूतानि वसंति परमात्मनि । भूतेषु वसनादेव वासुदेवस्ततः स्मृतः ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

sarvāṇi tatra bhūtāni vasaṃti paramātmani | bhūteṣu vasanādeva vāsudevastataḥ smṛtaḥ || 23 ||

Translation

Alle Wesen wohnen dort im Höchsten Selbst (Paramātman). Und weil Er in allen Wesen wohnt, wird Er daher als Vāsudeva in Erinnerung gehalten.

Word by Word

• सर्वाणि: all
• सर्वाणि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• भूतानि: beings
• भूतानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• वसन्ति: dwell
• वसन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वस् (धातु) निवासे
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• परमात्मनि: in the Supreme Self
• परमात्मनि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परमात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/locative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: परमः आत्मा

• भूतेषु: in beings
• भूतेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/locative), बहुवचन

• वसनात्: from (his) dwelling
• वसनात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसन (प्रातिपदिक; √वस् + ल्युट् भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/ablative), एकवचन

• एव: indeed
• एव: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण-निपात (particle of emphasis)

• वासुदेवः: Vāsudeva
• वासुदेवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• ततः: therefore
• ततः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तस्मात्-अर्थे (ablatival adverb: ‘therefore/from that’)

• स्मृतः: is called/remembered
• स्मृतः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्मृ (धातु) स्मरणे; स्मृत (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘is called/remembered’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in Moksha-Dharma context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Paramatman
• Vasudeva
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It identifies the Supreme Self as both the support in which all beings abide and the indwelling Lord present within all beings—grounding liberation (moksha) in recognition of Vāsudeva’s omnipresence.

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

Bhakti becomes universal and non-sectarian here: worship of Vāsudeva is meaningful because the Lord is present in every being, so devotion naturally expresses itself as reverence, compassion, and God-remembrance in all contexts.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights nirukti-style derivation (etymological meaning): “Vāsudeva” is explained through the idea of ‘dwelling’ (vas-)—a traditional Vedāṅga method for understanding sacred names and doctrinal terms.