Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 10
The Greatness of Viṣṇu
Uttaṅka’s Hymn, Hari’s Manifestation, and the Boon of Bhakti
एकेन हेम्नैव विभूषणानि यातानि भेदत्वमुपाधिभेदात् । तथैव सर्वेश्वर एक एव प्रदृश्यते भिन्न इवाखिलात्मा ॥ १० ॥
ekena hemnaiva vibhūṣaṇāni yātāni bhedatvamupādhibhedāt | tathaiva sarveśvara eka eva pradṛśyate bhinna ivākhilātmā || 10 ||
Wie Schmuckstücke aus ein und demselben Gold aufgrund verschiedener Formen und Upādhis verschieden erscheinen, so ist auch der höchste Herr in Wahrheit einzig, doch der All‑Selbst wird gesehen, als wäre er vielfältig.
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It teaches that multiplicity is only an appearance caused by upādhis (limiting conditions); the inner reality is one Sarveśvara who is the All-Self. This supports liberation through right vision (samyag-darśana).
By revealing one Lord within all beings, it deepens bhakti from sectarian or transactional worship into all-pervading devotion—seeing every form as resting in the one Sarveśvara, like ornaments in gold.
The verse chiefly conveys Vedānta rather than a specific Vedāṅga; practically, it trains viveka (discernment) between substance and name-form—useful for correct scriptural interpretation (śāstra-artha) and removing confusion caused by linguistic labels.