Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 30

योगस्वरूप-धारणा-समाधि-वर्णनम् (केशिध्वजोपदेशः)

Devanagari script

तच्च विष्णोः परं रूपमरूपस्याजनस्य च । विश्वस्वरूपवैरूप्यलक्षणं परमात्मनः ॥ ३० ॥

Transliteration

tacca viṣṇoḥ paraṃ rūpamarūpasyājanasya ca | viśvasvarūpavairūpyalakṣaṇaṃ paramātmanaḥ || 30 ||

Translation

Das ist die höchste Gestalt Viṣṇus — des Gestaltlosen und Ungeborenen: das Kennzeichen des Paramātman, dessen Wesen das Universum selbst ist, das in mannigfachen Formen und vielfältigen Erscheinungen hervortritt.

Word by Word

• तत्: that (form/that reality)
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with रूपम्

• रूपम्: form
• रूपम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• अरूपस्य: of the formless (one)
• अरूपस्य: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध/Of)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन); negated adjective (नञ्-प्रत्यय)

• अजनस्य: of the unborn (one)
• अजनस्य: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध/Of)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन); negated adjective (नञ्-प्रत्यय)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• विश्व-स्वरूप-वैरूप्य-लक्षणम्: characterized by the universe-form and its manifoldness
• विश्व-स्वरूप-वैरूप्य-लक्षणम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Predicate qualifier of रूपम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वरूप (प्रातिपदिक) + वैरूप्य (प्रातिपदिक) + लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी/तत्पुरुष-समास sense: 'having the characteristic of (लक्षणम्) the manifoldness (वैरूप्य) of the universe-form (विश्वस्वरूप)'

• परमात्मनः: of the Supreme Self
• परमात्मनः: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध/Of)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम-आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय: 'supreme self'

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Paramatman

FAQs

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

It identifies Viṣṇu with the Paramātman—formless and unborn—while also affirming that the entire universe is His manifestation, a core insight for liberation (mokṣa).

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

By revealing that all forms and beings are expressions of Viṣṇu, it supports bhakti that is both personal (worship of Viṣṇu) and expansive (seeing the Lord in all), deepening reverence and surrender.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga practice is taught in this verse; it is primarily Vedānta-oriented tattva-vicāra (enquiry into the nature of the Supreme Self) that informs how one understands mantra, worship, and contemplation.