Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 30

Threefold Suffering, Twofold Knowledge, and the Definition of Bhagavān (Vāsudeva); Prelude to Keśidhvaja–Janaka Yoga

Devanagari script

स ईश्वरो व्यष्टिसमष्टिरूपोऽव्यक्तस्वरूपः प्रकटस्वरूपः । सर्वेश्वरः सर्वनिसर्गवेत्ता समस्तशक्तिः परमेश्वराख्यः ॥ २९ ॥

Transliteration

sa īśvaro vyaṣṭisamaṣṭirūpo'vyaktasvarūpaḥ prakaṭasvarūpaḥ | sarveśvaraḥ sarvanisargavettā samastaśaktiḥ parameśvarākhyaḥ || 29 ||

Translation

He is the Lord, bearing the form of both the individual (vyaṣṭi) and the cosmic totality (samaṣṭi); His true nature is unmanifest, yet He also appears in manifest form. He is the Lord of all, knower of the entire order of creation, endowed with all powers, and is known as Parameśvara, the Supreme Lord.

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Nominative, Singular

• īśvaraḥ: the Lord
• īśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Nominative, Singular

• vyaṣṭi-samaṣṭi-rūpaḥ: having individual-and-collective form
• vyaṣṭi-samaṣṭi-rūpaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vyaṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक) + samaṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Nominative, Singular; द्वन्द्वपूर्वपद + तत्पुरुष: ‘having the form of the individual and the collective’

• avyakta-svarūpaḥ: of unmanifest nature
• avyakta-svarūpaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: avyakta (प्रातिपदिक) + sva-rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Nominative, Singular; ‘whose own form is unmanifest’

• prakaṭa-svarūpaḥ: of manifest nature
• prakaṭa-svarūpaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prakaṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + sva-rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Nominative, Singular; ‘whose own form is manifest’

• sarva-īśvaraḥ: Lord of all
• sarva-īśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Nominative, Singular; ‘Lord of all’

• sarva-nisarga-vettā: knower of all creation
• sarva-nisarga-vettā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + nisarga (प्रातिपदिक) + vettṛ (प्रातिपदिक; from √vid)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Nominative, Singular; agent noun ‘knower of all creation/nature’

• samasta-śaktiḥ: endowed with all powers
• samasta-śaktiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samasta (प्रातिपदिक) + śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Nominative, Singular; ‘possessing all powers’

• parama-īśvara-ākhyaḥ: known as the Supreme Lord
• parama-īśvara-ākhyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक) + ākhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga, Nominative, Singular; ‘called the Supreme Lord’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Parameshvara
• Ishvara

FAQs

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

It defines Parameśvara as simultaneously transcendent (unmanifest) and immanent (manifest), the one reality behind both the individual self and the cosmic totality—supporting a Moksha-Dharma vision where liberation comes from recognizing the Lord as all-pervading and all-powerful.

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

By affirming that the same Supreme Lord appears in manifest forms, it validates worship and devotion to the revealed, approachable form of God while remembering His unmanifest, limitless essence—Bhakti becomes a direct means to relate to the all-knowing, all-powerful Lord.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; it primarily conveys Vedāntic terminology (vyaṣṭi/samaṣṭi, manifest/unmanifest) that underpins correct theological understanding used when interpreting Vedic hymns and Purāṇic ritual devotion.