Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

संप्रष्टुं परमं तत्वं शिवं कैलासवासिनम् । त्वया पृष्टो महादेवो रहस्यं स्वप्रकाशितम् ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

saṃpraṣṭuṃ paramaṃ tatvaṃ śivaṃ kailāsavāsinam | tvayā pṛṣṭo mahādevo rahasyaṃ svaprakāśitam || 9 ||

Translation

Um nach der höchsten Wirklichkeit zu fragen, befragtest du Śiva, den Bewohner des Kailāsa; und Mahādeva, von dir gefragt, offenbarte das Geheimnis durch das Licht seiner eigenen leuchtenden Erkenntnis.

Word by Word

• संप्रष्टुम्: to ask
• संप्रष्टुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-√प्रश् (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive): ‘to ask’

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (to तत्त्वम्)

• तत्त्वम्: principle/truth
• तत्त्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मपद (object)

• कैलास-वासिनम्: dwelling on Kailāsa
• कैलास-वासिनम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कैलास (प्रातिपदिक) + वासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः (kailāse vāsī)

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Kartr̥ (कर्तृ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण/कर्तृ-निर्देश (agent/instrument)

• पृष्टः: was asked
• पृष्टः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √प्रश् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि: ‘was asked’

• महादेवः: Mahādeva
• महादेवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• रहस्यम्: secret
• रहस्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रहस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• स्व-प्रकाशितम्: self-revealed
• स्व-प्रकाशितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रकाशित (√काश् + क्त, कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘self-revealed/manifested by itself’ (रहस्यम् विशेषयति)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (one of the Sanatkumara brothers), addressing Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Mahadeva
• Kailasa

FAQs

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

It highlights the ideal method of spiritual pursuit: sincere inquiry into the highest tattva, approached through a realized teacher—here Śiva—who reveals the inner secret not as mere theory but as self-luminous direct knowledge.

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

While framed as inquiry (jijñāsā), it implies bhakti through reverent approaching and questioning of the Lord; devotion matures into receiving “rahasya” (inner teaching) when the seeker humbly asks and the deity-grace reveals.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse underscores the Vedāṅga-aligned principle of proper transmission (upadeśa) through authoritative questioning and instruction—an essential discipline for preserving and correctly understanding sacred knowledge, even when the topic is esoteric.