Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 14

Mokṣopāya: Bhakti-rooted Jñāna and the Aṣṭāṅga Yoga of Viṣṇu-Meditation

Devanagari script

निर्गुणोऽपि गुणाधारो लोकानुग्रहरुपधृक् । आकाशमध्यगः पूर्णस्तं प्राहुर्मोक्षदं नृणाम् ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

nirguṇo'pi guṇādhāro lokānugraharupadhṛk | ākāśamadhyagaḥ pūrṇastaṃ prāhurmokṣadaṃ nṛṇām || 14 ||

Translation

Obwohl Er jenseits der Guṇas ist, ist Er doch die Stütze aller Guṇas; aus Mitgefühl für die Welten nimmt Er eine Gestalt an, allgegenwärtig und vollkommen—ihn verkünden sie als Spender der Befreiung für die Menschen.

Word by Word

• निर्गुणः: without (material) qualities
• निर्गुणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः—तत्पुरुष ‘निः+गुण’ (without qualities)

• अपि: even/though
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधान/समुच्चयार्थ

• गुणाधारः: support of qualities
• गुणाधारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + आधार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष ‘गुणानाम् आधारः’

• लोकानुग्रहरूपधृक्: assuming a form for the favor of the worlds
• लोकानुग्रहरूपधृक्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुग्रह (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक) + धृक्/धृ (कृदन्त; √धृ धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः ‘लोकानुग्रहस्य रूपं धत्ते इति’

• आकाशमध्यगः: situated in the midst of the sky
• आकाशमध्यगः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आकाश (प्रातिपदिक) + मध्य (प्रातिपदिक) + ग (कृदन्त; √गम् धातु, क्तिन्/अच्-प्रत्ययार्थ ‘गः’ = gone/being)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः—तत्पुरुष ‘आकाशस्य मध्ये गः’

• पूर्णः: complete, full
• पूर्णः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from √पॄ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्राहुः: they call/declare
• प्राहुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• मोक्षदम्: giver of liberation
• मोक्षदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + द (कृदन्त; √दा धातु, ‘द’ = giving)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of ‘तम्’); समासः—तत्पुरुष ‘मोक्षं ददाति इति’

• नृणाम्: of men
• नृणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue context with Sanatkumara tradition; verse states a doctrinal description)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)

Secondary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It reconciles nirguṇa transcendence with compassionate manifestation: the Supreme is beyond material qualities yet supports them and, for the world’s welfare, becomes accessible—therefore He alone is proclaimed the giver of mokṣa.

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

By stating that the Lord ‘assumes a form for the world’s grace,’ it validates worship of the manifested (saguṇa) form as a merciful means to approach the transcendent (nirguṇa) reality—central to Vishnu-bhakti in the Narada Purana.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught; the takeaway is doctrinal clarity (tattva-viveka) used in mantra-japa and pūjā: the deity invoked in ritual is not limited by form, but is the all-pervading support of all guṇas.