Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

आगमोत्थं विवेकाञ्च द्विधा ज्ञानं तथोच्यते । शब्दब्रह्मागममयं परं ब्रह्मविवेकजम् ॥ ६ ॥

Transliteration

āgamotthaṃ vivekāñca dvidhā jñānaṃ tathocyate | śabdabrahmāgamamayaṃ paraṃ brahmavivekajam || 6 ||

Translation

Knowledge is thus said to be twofold: that which arises from Āgama (scriptural tradition) and that which arises from discernment (viveka). The Brahman in the form of sound (śabda-brahman) is constituted of Āgama, while the Supreme Brahman (para-brahman) is born of discriminative insight.

Word by Word

• आगम-उत्थम्: arising from āgama (scripture)
• आगम-उत्थम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आगम (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्थ (कृदन्त; √स्था/√उत्था)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (‘arisen from scripture/tradition’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• विवेकात्: from discernment
• विवेकात्: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विवेक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक (conjunction)

• द्विधा: in two ways
• द्विधा: Prakara (प्रकार/Mode)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्विधा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb of manner: ‘in two ways’)

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Prakara (प्रकार/Mode)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/उपमानवाचक (thus/in that manner)

• उच्यते: is said/called
• उच्यते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

• शब्द-ब्रह्म-आगम-मयम्: consisting of scriptural tradition (as śabda-brahman)
• शब्द-ब्रह्म-आगम-मयम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शब्द (प्रातिपदिक) + ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + आगम (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (श्रृङ्खला; ‘consisting of āgama which is śabda-brahman’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• ब्रह्म-विवेक-जम्: arising from discernment of Brahman
• ब्रह्म-विवेक-जम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + विवेक (प्रातिपदिक) + ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (‘born of discernment of Brahman’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahman

FAQs

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

It distinguishes scriptural knowledge (śabda-brahman, gained through Āgama) from liberating realization (para-brahman, gained through viveka), indicating that moksha requires discernment that culminates beyond mere verbal learning.

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

By implying a progression: Āgama provides the revealed names, hymns, and disciplines that support devotion, while viveka matures that practice into direct God-realization—so bhakti is strengthened by scripture and fulfilled by inner discernment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to the primacy of śabda (revealed sound), which is supported by Vedāṅga disciplines like Śikṣā (phonetics) and Vyākaraṇa (grammar) for correct transmission—yet it also stresses that technical mastery must culminate in viveka for liberation.