Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 88

Śrāddha-prayoga: Niyama, Brāhmaṇa-parīkṣā, Kutapa-kāla, Tithi-nyāya, and Vaiṣṇava-phala

Devanagari script

परब्रह्माभिधेयो य एक एव जनार्दनः । कर्त्ता कारयिता चैव सर्वं विष्णुः सनातनः ॥ ८८ ॥

Transliteration

parabrahmābhidheyo ya eka eva janārdanaḥ | karttā kārayitā caiva sarvaṃ viṣṇuḥ sanātanaḥ || 88 ||

Translation

Der, den man als das höchste Brahman bezeichnet, ist der eine und einzige Janārdana. Er allein, der ewige Viṣṇu, ist sowohl der Handelnde als auch der, der zum Handeln veranlasst; alles ist Viṣṇu.

Word by Word

• परब्रह्माभिधेयः: designated as the Supreme Brahman
• परब्रह्माभिधेयः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर-ब्रह्म-अभिधेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (परं ब्रह्म इति अभिधेयः)

• यः: who
• यः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-सूचक (relative pronoun)

• एकः: one
• एकः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• एव: indeed/alone
• एव: अवधारण (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात (particle of emphasis)

• जनार्दनः: Janārdana (Vishnu)
• जनार्दनः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject-appositive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनार्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• कर्त्ता: doer/creator
• कर्त्ता: कर्ता (Karta/Subject-appositive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक; √कृ धातु-कृत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तृच्-प्रत्ययान्त (agent noun)

• कारयिता: causer/instigator
• कारयिता: कर्ता (Karta/Subject-appositive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारयितृ (प्रातिपदिक; √कृ धातु, णिच् causative + तृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; णिच्-कारक (causative agent noun)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

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

• सर्वम्: all (everything)
• सर्वम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘समस्तम्’ अर्थे

• विष्णुः: Vishnu
• विष्णुः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject-appositive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सनातनः: eternal
• सनातनः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सनातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada on the supremacy of Vishnu)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Janardana
• Vishnu
• Parabrahman

FAQs

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

It establishes Viṣṇu (Janārdana) as Parabrahman—the single, ultimate reality—so liberation is grounded in recognizing the Lord as the essence of all.

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

By declaring that everything is the eternal Viṣṇu and that He is the true agent behind all action, the verse directs the devotee to surrender results and cultivate single-pointed devotion to Janārdana.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; its practical takeaway is theological discernment (tattva-nirṇaya): seeing the Lord as the inner controller behind action (kartā/karayitā), which supports disciplined worship and ethical conduct.