Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

एवमेव महाशब्दो भगवानिति सत्तम । परमब्रह्मभूतस्य वासुदेवस्य नान्यगः ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

evameva mahāśabdo bhagavāniti sattama | paramabrahmabhūtasya vāsudevasya nānyagaḥ || 19 ||

Translation

Así pues, oh el mejor de los virtuosos, la gran y excelsa palabra «Bhagavān» no se refiere a nadie más que a Vāsudeva, cuya naturaleza es el Brahman Supremo (Paramabrahman).

Word by Word

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Manner adverb (प्रकारवाचक अव्यय)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (अवधारणार्थक अव्यय)

• mahāśabdaḥ: the great term
• mahāśabdaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + śabda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); ‘great word/term’

• bhagavān: Bhagavān (the Lord)
• bhagavān: Apposition (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyārtha-dyotaka (quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति)

• sattama: O best of the virtuous
• sattama: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक) + tama (प्रत्यय)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन); superlative ‘best among the good’

• paramabrahmabhūtasya: of (him) who is the Supreme Brahman
• paramabrahmabhūtasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūta (कृदन्त, √bhū)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa ‘of him who is (bhūta) the Supreme Brahman’

• vāsudevasya: of Vāsudeva
• vāsudevasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsudeva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• na: not
• na: Niṣedha (निषेध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेधार्थक अव्यय)

• anyagaḥ: not applicable to anyone else
• anyagaḥ: Viśeṣya-predicative (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya-ga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa ‘going elsewhere/other-directed’; predicate to mahāśabdaḥ

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vasudeva
• Bhagavan
• Paramabrahman

FAQs

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

It establishes a key Moksha-Dharma point: the title “Bhagavān” (the Supreme Lord) is not a generic honorific here, but a definitive designation of Vāsudeva as the very Supreme Brahman, making devotion to him a direct means to liberation.

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

By declaring that the supreme designation “Bhagavān” belongs to Vāsudeva alone, the verse focuses bhakti on a single highest object—Vishnu/Vāsudeva—supporting exclusive devotion (ananya-bhakti) as spiritually decisive.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects nirukta/vyākaraṇa-style precision about śabda (a sacred term) and its proper referent: the “mahāśabda” Bhagavān is defined as pointing specifically to Vāsudeva, guiding correct theological usage in recitation, teaching, and interpretation.