Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 33

Anadhyaya and the Winds: From Vedic Recitation Protocol to Sanatkumara’s Moksha-Upadesha

Devanagari script

अनारमंतः सर्वांगाः सर्वचारिणः । एतत्तु महदाश्चर्यं यदयं पर्वतोत्तमः ॥ ३३ ॥

Transliteration

anāramaṃtaḥ sarvāṃgāḥ sarvacāriṇaḥ | etattu mahadāścaryaṃ yadayaṃ parvatottamaḥ || 33 ||

Translation

Ils ne cessent point leur activité ; leurs membres sont intacts et ils vont partout. Et pourtant, voici la grande merveille : que cette montagne est la meilleure des montagnes.

Word by Word

• anāramantaḥ: not resting, unceasing
• anāramantaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: an-ā-√ram (धातु) + śatṛ (कृत्)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; नकारार्थक (negated)

• sarva-aṅgāḥ: having all limbs (complete-bodied)
• sarva-aṅgāḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि समास (sarvāṇi aṅgāni yeṣām = having all limbs); प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; विशेषण (of implied beings)

• sarva-cāriṇaḥ: moving everywhere
• sarva-cāriṇaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + cārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास (sarvatra cāriṇaḥ = moving everywhere); प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; विशेषण

• etat: this
• etat: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग सर्वनाम

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle: contrast/emphasis)

• mahat: great
• mahat: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; विशेषण (of āścaryam)

• āścaryam: wonder, marvel
• āścaryam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āścarya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• yat: that/which (in that)
• yat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Clause linker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; सम्बन्धबोधक (relative particle introducing clause)

• ayam: this
• ayam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग सर्वनाम

• parvata-uttamaḥ: the best mountain
• parvata-uttamaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parvata (प्रातिपदिक) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय समास (uttamaḥ parvataḥ = best mountain); प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It points to the paradox of the manifest world: constant activity and all-pervading movement are observed, yet a mountain—symbol of steadiness—stands as the “foremost,” inviting contemplation on stability amid change.

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

By highlighting “wonder” (āścarya) at the order of creation, the verse supports a bhakti-oriented attitude of reverent awe, which naturally turns the mind toward the Lord as the arranger behind such contrasts.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Primarily Vyākaraṇa-oriented nuance: the compound parvatottama (“best of mountains”) and descriptive epithets (sarvāṅga, sarvacārin) show how Sanskrit compounds and qualifiers convey layered meaning; no specific ritual or Jyotiṣa instruction is stated in this verse.