Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 25

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

Devanagari script

खांडिक्यं जनकं प्राह पृष्टः केशिध्वजः पुरा । नामव्याख्यामनंतस्य वासुदेवस्य तत्त्वतः ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

khāṃḍikyaṃ janakaṃ prāha pṛṣṭaḥ keśidhvajaḥ purā | nāmavyākhyāmanaṃtasya vāsudevasya tattvataḥ || 24 ||

Translation

Autrefois, interrogé, Keśidhvaja s’adressa à Khāṇḍikya Janaka, exposant en vérité le sens du Nom d’Ananta—Vāsudeva.

Word by Word

• खाण्डिक्यम्: Khāṇḍikya (name)
• खाण्डिक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खाण्डिक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन

• जनकम्: Janaka
• जनकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• प्राह: said
• प्राह: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ब्रू (धातु) वचने
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; ‘said’

• पृष्टः: being asked
• पृष्टः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √पृच्छ् (धातु) प्रश्नकर्मणि; पृष्ट (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मणि ‘having been asked’

• केशिध्वजः: Keśidhvaja
• केशिध्वजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशिध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• नाम-व्याख्याम्: explanation of the name
• नाम-व्याख्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक) + व्याख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: नाम्नः व्याख्या

• अनन्तस्य: of Ananta
• अनन्तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), एकवचन

• वासुदेवस्य: of Vāsudeva
• वासुदेवस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• तत्त्वतः: truly; in essence
• तत्त्वतः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्त्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/सत्यवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: ‘in truth/according to reality’)

Speaker

Narrator (Purana voice) referencing an earlier dialogue of Keśidhvaja addressing Janaka

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Keśidhvaja
• Janaka (Khāṇḍikya Janaka)
• Ananta
• Vāsudeva

FAQs

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

It frames Vāsudeva as Ananta (the Infinite) and introduces nāma-vyākhyā—understanding the Lord’s Name “in truth” (tattvataḥ) as a direct support for mokṣa-oriented contemplation.

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

By emphasizing explanation of the divine Name, it points to bhakti grounded in right understanding—hearing and reflecting on Vāsudeva’s nāma with tattva-jñāna rather than mere repetition.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse specifically foregrounds nāma-vyākhyā (name-interpretation), aligning most closely with Vyākaraṇa/Nirukta-style meaning-analysis, used to deepen devotional and philosophical clarity.