Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 147

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

Devanagari script

परं ज्योतिरमेयात्मा मायावानिव मायिनाम् । तन्नाशे निर्मलं ब्रह्म प्रकाशयति पंडितं ॥ ४७ ॥

Transliteration

paraṃ jyotirameyātmā māyāvāniva māyinām | tannāśe nirmalaṃ brahma prakāśayati paṃḍitaṃ || 47 ||

Translation

Das höchste Licht, dessen Selbst unermeßlich ist, erscheint den von māyā Verblendeten, als wäre es von māyā erfüllt. Wenn jene (māyā) vernichtet ist, erleuchtet das makellose Brahman den Weisen.

Word by Word

• param: supreme
• param: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (jyotiḥ इत्यस्य)

• jyotiḥ: light
• jyotiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jyotis (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम्

• ameya-ātmā: the immeasurable Self
• ameya-ātmā: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ameya (कृदन्त/तव्यत्-निष्पन्न; ‘अमेय’) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; कर्मधारय-समासः (अमेयः आत्मा)

• māyāvān: possessing māyā
• māyāvān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: māyāvat (प्रातिपदिक; मतुप्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• iva: as if
• iva: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्ययम्

• māyinām: of those who wield māyā / illusionists
• māyinām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māyin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी-बहुवचनम् (genitive plural)

• tat-nāśe: upon its destruction (of that)
• tat-nāśe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + nāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी-एकवचनम्; अधिकरणम्; तत्पुरुष-समासः (तस्य नाशः)

• nirmalam: pure
• nirmalam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nirmala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (brahma इत्यस्य)

• brahma: Brahman
• brahma: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-एकवचनम्; कर्म (object)

• prakāśayati: reveals/makes manifest
• prakāśayati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-kāś (धातु; णिच् causative)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present); परस्मैपदम्; प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्; णिजन्त (causative)

• paṇḍitam: the wise person
• paṇḍitam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paṇḍita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया-एकवचनम्; कर्म (object)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the moksha-oriented discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Maya

FAQs

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

It states that Brahman is ever the Supreme Light, but due to māyā it seems conditioned to the deluded; when māyā is removed, Brahman’s pure radiance is directly realized by the wise, marking liberation-oriented insight.

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

While framed in jñāna language, it supports bhakti by implying that devotion purifies perception: as attachment and delusion (māyā) lessen through Vishnu-bhakti and surrender, the Supreme Reality is experienced as self-revealing light rather than as a worldly, veiled appearance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; its practical takeaway is discernment (viveka) and inner purification—foundational to Vedānta study and to applying śāstra correctly without being misled by māyā.