Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 64

Yamapatha (The Road of Yama), Dāna-Phala, and the Imperishable Fruition of Karma

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवाद्यैस्तु भेदवानिव लक्ष्यते । गुणोपाधिकभेदेषु त्रिष्वेतेषु सनातन ॥ ६४ ॥

Transliteration

brahmaviṣṇuśivādyaistu bhedavāniva lakṣyate | guṇopādhikabhedeṣu triṣveteṣu sanātana || 64 ||

Translation

Though eternal, He is perceived as if differentiated through Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Śiva and the others—because of distinctions arising from the limiting adjuncts (upādhis) of the three guṇas.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्म-विष्णु-शिव-आद्यैः: by Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Śiva, etc.
• ब्रह्म-विष्णु-शिव-आद्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (copulative) with ‘आदि’ (etc.); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• तु: indeed / but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अवधारण-निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• भेदवान्: as having difference
• भेदवान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भेदवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्यय (possessive)

• इव: as if
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Comparison)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-निपात (as if)

• लक्ष्यते: is perceived / is seen
• लक्ष्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense)

• गुण-उपाधिक-भेदेषु: in distinctions based on guṇas and upādhis
• गुण-उपाधिक-भेदेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + उपाधिक (प्रातिपदिक) + भेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), बहुवचन; ‘in the distinctions due to qualities and limiting adjuncts’

• त्रिषु: in (these) three
• त्रिषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक-विशेषण

• एतेषु: in these
• एतेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• सनातन: O Eternal one
• सनातन: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Vishnu
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that the Supreme is eternally one, yet appears as multiple divine forms due to guṇa-conditioned upādhis; realizing this removes sectarian conflict and supports mokṣa-oriented knowledge.

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

By affirming one eternal Reality behind Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Śiva, it allows devotion to a chosen form (iṣṭa-devatā) while maintaining the understanding of underlying unity—strengthening focused bhakti without denying other forms.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse mainly conveys Vedāntic tattva (guṇa and upādhi reasoning) rather than a specific Vedāṅga practice; it offers a practical interpretive key for reading Purāṇic deity descriptions without mistaking apparent roles for ultimate difference.