Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 62

Yamapatha (The Road of Yama), Dāna-Phala, and the Imperishable Fruition of Karma

Devanagari script

पृष्टं तत्तेऽभिधास्यामि श्रृणुष्व सुसमाहितः । नारायणोऽक्षरोऽनंतः परं ज्योतिः सनातनः ॥ ६२ ॥

Transliteration

pṛṣṭaṃ tatte'bhidhāsyāmi śrṛṇuṣva susamāhitaḥ | nārāyaṇo'kṣaro'naṃtaḥ paraṃ jyotiḥ sanātanaḥ || 62 ||

Translation

Was du gefragt hast, will ich dir verkünden—höre mit ganz gesammeltem Geist. Nārāyaṇa ist der Unvergängliche (Akṣara), der Unendliche (Ananta), das höchste und ewige Licht.

Word by Word

• पृष्टम्: asked (question)
• पृष्टम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘asked’

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative), एकवचन; एन्क्लिटिक

• अभिधास्यामि: I will explain
• अभिधास्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-धा (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• शृणुष्व: listen
• शृणुष्व: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• सुसमाहितः: well-attentive
• सुसमाहितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + समाहित (प्रातिपदिक; सम्-आ-धा + क्त)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण—‘well-collected/attentive’

• नारायणः: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अक्षरः: imperishable
• अक्षरः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• अनन्तः: endless
• अनन्तः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (for ज्योतिः)

• ज्योतिः: light
• ज्योतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्योतिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सनातनः: eternal
• सनातनः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सनातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Sanatkumara (one of the Sanaka brothers)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It identifies Nārāyaṇa as the imperishable and infinite Supreme Reality—eternal Light—framing the forthcoming teaching as a direct pointer to liberation through recognizing the highest principle.

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

By naming Nārāyaṇa as the supreme, eternal Light, it establishes a clear object of devotion: steadfast, attentive hearing and contemplation culminate in single-pointed bhakti toward Vishnu as the highest.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes śravaṇa with susamāhita (disciplined attention), a practical method aligned with Vedic study and recitation discipline (śikṣā), though no specific technical Vedanga rule is taught in this line.