Shloka 31

नारदस्य विष्णूपदेशवर्णनम् — Nārada and Viṣṇu: Instruction after Delusion

Devanagari script

परं ब्रह्म परात्मा स सच्चिदानंदबोधनः । निर्गुणो निर्विकारो च रजस्सत्वतमःपर

Transliteration

paraṃ brahma parātmā sa saccidānaṃdabodhanaḥ | nirguṇo nirvikāro ca rajassatvatamaḥpara

Translation

He is the Supreme Brahman, the Supreme Self—pure awareness in the form of Existence, Consciousness, and Bliss (Sat-Cit-Ānanda). He is without attributes and without change, transcending rajas, sattva, and tamas.

Word by Word

• param: supreme
• param: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (brahma)

• brahma: Brahman (Absolute)
• brahma: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• parātmā: the Supreme Self
• parātmā: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (परः आत्मा)

• saḥ: he/that
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• sat-cit-ānanda-bodhanaḥ: whose nature is awareness of being-consciousness-bliss
• sat-cit-ānanda-bodhanaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक) + cit (प्रातिपदिक) + ānanda (प्रातिपदिक) + bodhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमासः (sat-cit-ānanda-viṣayakaḥ bodhanaḥ)

• nirguṇaḥ: without qualities
• nirguṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nirguṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (saḥ)

• nirvikāraḥ: unchanging
• nirvikāraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nirvikāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (saḥ)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• rajaḥ-sattva-tamaḥ-paraḥ: beyond rajas, sattva, and tamas
• rajaḥ-sattva-tamaḥ-paraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rajas (प्रातिपदिक) + sattva (प्रातिपदिक) + tamas (प्रातिपदिक) + para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (rajaḥ-sattva-tamaḥ-ātītaḥ paraḥ)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It identifies Shiva as the Supreme Reality (Parabrahman)—changeless pure Consciousness (sat-cit-ānanda)—who stands beyond the three guṇas that govern prakṛti, guiding the seeker toward liberation through knowing the Supreme Self.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

Although Shiva is declared nirguṇa and beyond all qualities, the Linga and other saguna forms serve as compassionate supports for devotion and meditation, enabling the mind bound to guṇas to approach the transcendent Pati.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as sat-cit-ānanda while repeating the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), using bhasma/tripuṇḍra and rudrākṣa as aids to steady remembrance of the guṇa-transcendent Lord.