Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 92

Bhāgīratha’s Bringing of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

परं शब्दब्रह्मरूपं तं वन्देऽखिलकारणम् । कपर्द्दिने नमस्तुभ्यं सद्योजाताय वै नमः ॥ ९२ ॥

Transliteration

paraṃ śabdabrahmarūpaṃ taṃ vande'khilakāraṇam | kaparddine namastubhyaṃ sadyojātāya vai namaḥ || 92 ||

Translation

Ich verehre den Höchsten, dessen Gestalt das Śabda-Brahman, das Brahman des heiligen Klanges, die Ursache von allem ist. Verehrung Dir, o Kapardin (Herr mit verfilztem Haar); Verehrung wahrlich Sadyōjāta.

Word by Word

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/modifier of tam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• शब्द-ब्रह्म-रूपम्: of the nature/form of sound-Brahman
• शब्द-ब्रह्म-रूपम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/modifier of tam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शब्द (प्रातिपदिक) + ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (Tatpuruṣa; ‘having the form of Śabda-brahman’), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of vande)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• वन्दे: I worship/salute
• वन्दे: Kriyā (क्रिया/finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वन्द् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present, लट्), आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (Singular)

• अखिल-कारणम्: the cause of all
• अखिल-कारणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object in apposition to tam)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक) + कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (Tatpuruṣa; ‘cause of all’), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• कपर्द्दिने: to Kapardin (the matted-haired one)
• कपर्द्दिने: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपर्दिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), चतुर्थी (Dative, 4th), एकवचन (Singular)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/formula of salutation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमः (अव्यय/निपात)
• Form: नमस्कारार्थक-अव्यय (indeclinable of salutation)

• तुभ्यम्: to you
• तुभ्यम्: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम (2nd person pronoun), चतुर्थी (Dative, 4th), एकवचन (Singular)

• सद्यः-जाताय: to Sadyojāta (just-born aspect/name)
• सद्यः-जाताय: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सद्यः (अव्यय) + जात (√जन् + क्त, कृदन्त)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमास (Karmadhāraya; ‘just-born’), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), चतुर्थी (Dative, 4th), एकवचन (Singular)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/formula of salutation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमः (अव्यय/निपात)
• Form: नमस्कारार्थक-अव्यय (indeclinable of salutation)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kapardin
• Sadyojata
• Shabda-Brahman

FAQs

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

It venerates the Supreme as Śabda-Brahman—ultimate reality expressed as sacred sound—affirming that the Lord (here praised as Śiva) is the universal cause and the proper object of devotion.

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

Bhakti is expressed through direct namaskāra and praise: recognizing the Lord’s supremacy and causality, the devotee bows with reverence to specific divine epithets (Kapardin, Sadyōjāta), turning theology into worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse points to mantra-centric practice: understanding divine names/epithets and the doctrine of Śabda-Brahman supports correct recitation and contemplative use of sacred sound (a foundation relevant to Śikṣā and Vyākaraṇa in Vedic tradition).