Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 78

The Recitation of the Thousand Names of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa (Yugala-Sahasranāma) and Śaraṇāgati-Dharma

Devanagari script

नित्यक्रीडो महालीलः सर्वः सर्वगतस्तथा । परमात्मा पराधीशः सर्वकारणकारणः ॥ ७८ ॥

Transliteration

nityakrīḍo mahālīlaḥ sarvaḥ sarvagatastathā | paramātmā parādhīśaḥ sarvakāraṇakāraṇaḥ || 78 ||

Translation

Er ist stets im göttlichen Spiel, der Herr der großen Līlā. Er ist alles und alldurchdringend. Er ist der Paramātmā, der höchste Souverän, die Ursache aller Ursachen.

Word by Word

• नित्यक्रीडः: ever-sporting
• नित्यक्रीडः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नित्य+क्रीड (प्रातिपदिक; नित्यं क्रीडः/क्रीडनशीलः)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय

• महालीलः: of great play (greatly sportive)
• महालीलः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा+लील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय

• सर्वः: all, the whole
• सर्वः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सर्वगतः: all-pervading
• सर्वगतः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व+गत (कृदन्त; गम् धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; सर्वत्र गतः)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-कृदन्त; कर्मधारय (सर्वत्र गतः)

• तथा: thus, also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थक (adverb: ‘thus/also’)

• परमात्मा: the Supreme Self
• परमात्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम+आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय

• पराधीशः: lord over all others
• पराधीशः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर+अधीश (प्रातिपदिक; परेषाम् अधीशः)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• सर्वकारणकारणः: the cause of all causes
• सर्वकारणकारणः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व+कारण+कारण (प्रातिपदिक; सर्वेषां कारणानां कारणम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (nested)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Paramatma
• Ishvara (Supreme Lord)

FAQs

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

It defines the Supreme Reality as playful (līlā), all-pervading, and the ultimate source behind every other cause—guiding the seeker to worship the highest Lord rather than limited, secondary powers.

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

By presenting the Lord as the indwelling Self and the supreme ruler, it supports single-pointed bhakti: devotion to the all-pervading Paramatma who sustains all beings and all worlds.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga technique is taught in this verse; it provides the metaphysical foundation (tattva) that traditionally underlies correct mantra-usage, ritual intention, and devotional practice.