Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 23
Sṛṣṭi-pralaya-kathana: Mahābhūta-guṇāḥ, Vṛkṣa-indriya-vādaḥ, Prāṇa-vāyu-vyavasthā
सर्वभूतात्मभूतस्थो दुर्विज्ञेयोऽकृतात्मभिः । अहंकारस्य यः स्रष्टा सर्वभूतभवाय वै । ततः समभवद्विश्वं पृष्टोऽहं यदिह त्वया ॥ २३ ॥
sarvabhūtātmabhūtastho durvijñeyo'kṛtātmabhiḥ | ahaṃkārasya yaḥ sraṣṭā sarvabhūtabhavāya vai | tataḥ samabhavadviśvaṃ pṛṣṭo'haṃ yadiha tvayā || 23 ||
He who abides as the Self of all beings and dwells within all beings is hard to know for those whose inner nature is unrefined. He is the creator of ahaṅkāra (egoity) for the arising of all beings; from Him the entire universe came into being—this I declare, since you have asked me here.
Sanatkumara (responding to Narada’s inquiry)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It states that the Supreme Reality is immanent as the Self in all beings, yet is difficult to realize without inner purification; it also links cosmic creation to the arising of ahaṅkāra, pointing seekers toward self-knowledge as the basis of moksha.
By identifying the indwelling Lord as the Self of all beings, it supports bhakti through constant remembrance and reverence for the Divine present in every heart; devotion becomes a means of purifying the mind, making that Reality knowable.
No specific Vedanga technique is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is sādhana-oriented—inner discipline and purification (kṛtātmatā) as the prerequisite for realizing the indwelling Self, which underlies all scriptural study.