Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

ज्ञेयं ज्ञातेति तथा भकारोऽर्थद्वयात्मकः । तेनागमपिता स्रष्टा गकारोऽयं तथा मुने ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

jñeyaṃ jñāteti tathā bhakāro'rthadvayātmakaḥ | tenāgamapitā sraṣṭā gakāro'yaṃ tathā mune || 16 ||

Translation

La syllabe « bha » porte un double sens : « ce qui doit être connu » et « le connaisseur ». Ainsi, ô sage, la syllabe « ga » doit être comprise comme le père des Āgama et aussi comme le Créateur.

Word by Word

• jñeyam: the knowable
• jñeyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñeya (कृदन्त; √jñā ज्ञा)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) / Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); gerundive (भाव्य/यत्) used substantively

• jñātā: the knower
• jñātā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñātṛ (प्रातिपदिक; agent noun from √jñā ज्ञा)
• Form: Pumliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-निपात)

• tathā: likewise/also
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)

• bhakāraḥ: the syllable/letter ‘bha’
• bhakāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bha-kāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• artha-dvaya-ātmakaḥ: having a twofold meaning
• artha-dvaya-ātmakaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: artha (प्रातिपदिक) + dvaya (प्रातिपदिक) + ātmaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• tena: by that/thereby
• tena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• āgama-pitā: the father of the Āgamas (scriptural traditions)
• āgama-pitā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āgama (प्रातिपदिक) + pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• sraṣṭā: creator
• sraṣṭā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sraṣṭṛ (प्रातिपदिक; agent noun from √sṛj सृज्)
• Form: Pumliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• gakāraḥ: the syllable/letter ‘ga’
• gakāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ga-kāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• ayam: this
• ayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• tathā: likewise/also
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)

• mune: O sage
• mune: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara
• Agama

FAQs

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

It frames liberation-oriented contemplation through mantra-phonetics: reality is understood as both the object of knowledge (jñeya) and the knowing subject (jñātā), pointing toward non-dual discernment in Moksha-Dharma.

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

By identifying the knower and the known within sacred sound, it supports bhakti as contemplative worship—meditating on the Lord as both the one to be realized and the inner witness who enables realization.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Śikṣā (phonetics) and mantra-vicāra: analyzing syllables (varṇa) and their intended meanings as a disciplined method for recitation, meditation, and doctrinal understanding.