Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 167
The Exposition of Nṛsiṁha Worship-Mantras, Nyāsa, Mudrās, Yantras, Kavaca, and Nṛsiṁha Gāyatrī
चैतन्यात्मन्श्चतुरात्मन्द्वादशात्मन्स्ततः परम् । चतुर्विंशात्मन्नन्ते तु पञ्चविंशात्मन्नित्यपि ॥ १६७ ॥
caitanyātmanścaturātmandvādaśātmanstataḥ param | caturviṃśātmannante tu pañcaviṃśātmannityapi || 167 ||
Das Selbst (Ātman) wird als Bewusstsein (caitanya) bezeichnet; als vierfaches Selbst; dann als zwölffaches Selbst; danach als vierundzwanzigfaches Selbst; und schließlich auch als das ewige fünfundzwanzigste Selbst.
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a Vedanga/technical enumeration style)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It maps progressively subtler understandings of the Self—from consciousness and functional groupings up to the twenty-four tattvas—culminating in the eternal twenty-fifth, the Puruṣa/Ātman beyond material principles, indicating liberation through discernment.
By distinguishing the eternal twenty-fifth Self from the twenty-four principles, it supports bhakti as devotion to the transcendent reality (Puruṣa), not merely to changing psycho-physical constituents—devotion becomes anchored in the nitya (eternal).
A technical, śāstra-style classification (tattva-saṅkhyā/saṅkhyāna) used in Vedanga-influenced teaching: precise enumeration and definition of categories to aid correct understanding and disciplined study.