Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 13

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

Devanagari script

तदेव भगवद्वाच्यं स्वरूपं परमात्मनः । वाचको भगवच्छब्दस्तस्योद्दिष्टोऽक्षयात्मनः ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

tadeva bhagavadvācyaṃ svarūpaṃ paramātmanaḥ | vācako bhagavacchabdastasyoddiṣṭo'kṣayātmanaḥ || 13 ||

Translation

Cette nature essentielle même du Paramātman est ce que désigne le mot « Bhagavān » ; et le mot « Bhagavān » est le terme signifiant expressément destiné à ce Soi impérissable.

Word by Word

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) / Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निपात)

• bhagavat-vācyam: to be denoted by ‘bhagavat’
• bhagavat-vācyam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक) + vācya (कृदन्त; √vac वच्)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) / Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); vācya = gerundive/future passive participle (भाव्य/यत्-प्रत्यय) meaning “to be denoted”

• svarūpam: essential form/nature
• svarūpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva-rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) / Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• paramātmanaḥ: of the Supreme Self
• paramātmanaḥ: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama-ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• vācakaḥ: denoter/expressor
• vācakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vācaka (प्रातिपदिक; from √vac वच्)
• Form: Pumliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhagavat-śabdaḥ: the word ‘bhagavat’
• bhagavat-śabdaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक) + śabda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• tasya: of him/of that
• tasya: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pum/Napumsaka (पुं/नपुंसक), Genitive (षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• uddiṣṭaḥ: indicated/pointed out
• uddiṣṭaḥ: Pradhana-visheshana (प्रधान-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ud-diṣṭa (कृदन्त; √diś दिश्)
• Form: Pumliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); past passive participle (क्त)

• akṣayātmanaḥ: of the imperishable Self
• akṣayātmanaḥ: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: akṣaya-ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Paramatman
• Bhagavan

FAQs

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

It establishes that “Bhagavān” is not merely an honorific but a precise designation for the Imperishable Supreme Self, guiding the seeker toward right understanding of God and liberation (moksha).

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

By affirming that the divine name “Bhagavān” directly points to the Supreme Reality, it supports bhakti practices like nāma-smaraṇa (remembrance of the Lord’s name) as a focused approach to the Paramatman.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects a Vyākaraṇa/Nirukta-style insight: the relationship between vācaka (word) and vācya (meaning), emphasizing precise terminology in scripture for correct philosophical comprehension.