Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 9

Mokṣopāya: Bhakti-rooted Jñāna and the Aṣṭāṅga Yoga of Viṣṇu-Meditation

Devanagari script

अहमादिविशेषांता जातायस्य प्रभावतगः । तं विद्यान्मोक्षदं विष्णुं नारायणमनामयम् ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

ahamādiviśeṣāṃtā jātāyasya prabhāvatagaḥ | taṃ vidyānmokṣadaṃ viṣṇuṃ nārāyaṇamanāmayam || 9 ||

Translation

From His power all differentiated existence—beginning with the sense of “I” and ending in the subtlest distinctions—has arisen. Know Him as Viṣṇu, Nārāyaṇa, the bestower of moksha, free from all affliction.

Word by Word

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: सम्बन्ध (quoted element in compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular), उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम

• आदि: etc., beginning with
• आदि: सम्बन्ध (compound member)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), ‘beginning/and so on’ अर्थे

• विशेष: distinctions, particulars
• विशेष: सम्बन्ध (compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रातिपदिक (as compound member)

• अन्ताः: ending with
• अन्ताः: कर्ता (with implied subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/प्रथमा), बहुवचन (Plural); ‘ending with’ अर्थे, विशेषण

• जाताः: born, arisen
• जाताः: कर्ता (Subject: ‘(they) are born/produced’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जात (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √जन्)
• Form: भूतकृत् (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nom.), बहुवचन (Plural)

• यस्य: of whom
• यस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/षष्ठी), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रभावतः: from (his) power
• प्रभावतः: अपादान (Source/Ablative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/पञ्चमी), एकवचन (Singular)

• तं: him
• तं: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular)

• विद्यात्: should know
• विद्यात्: क्रिया (Verb action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• मोक्षदम्: liberation-giving
• मोक्षदम्: कर्म (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मोक्षद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण तं-शब्दस्य; समासः—मोक्षं ददाति इति (तत्पुरुष)

• विष्णुम्: Vishnu
• विष्णुम्: कर्म (Apposition to object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular)

• नारायणम्: Narayana
• नारायणम्: कर्म (Apposition to object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular)

• अनामयम्: free from disease/sorrow
• अनामयम्: कर्म (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनामय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Narayana

FAQs

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

It identifies Narayana (Vishnu) as the ultimate source from whom the entire field of differentiated experience—starting with ego-consciousness—arises, and affirms Him as the direct giver of moksha.

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

By directing the seeker to ‘know’ Vishnu-Narayana as the liberation-giver and flawless refuge, it frames devotion and contemplation on Narayana as the most reliable orientation for transcending ego-based distinctions.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Vyakarana, Jyotisha, or Kalpa) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is a tattva-focused discipline—reducing identification with aham (ego) and centering worship/meditation on Narayana as mokṣada.