Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 65

Mokṣopāya: Bhakti-rooted Jñāna and the Aṣṭāṅga Yoga of Viṣṇu-Meditation

Devanagari script

शब्दब्रह्ममयं यत्तन्महावाक्यादिकं द्विज । तद्विचारोद्भवं ज्ञानं परं मोक्षस्य साधनम् ॥ ६५ ॥

Transliteration

śabdabrahmamayaṃ yattanmahāvākyādikaṃ dvija | tadvicārodbhavaṃ jñānaṃ paraṃ mokṣasya sādhanam || 65 ||

Translation

Ô deux-fois-né, ce qui est de la nature du Śabda-Brahman—les Mahāvākyas et autres énoncés védiques—, lorsqu’on le médite, fait naître la connaissance suprême; et cette connaissance est le moyen de la délivrance.

Word by Word

• śabda-brahma-mayam: consisting of Śabda-Brahman
• śabda-brahma-mayam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śabda (प्रातिपदिक) + brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + maya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (śabdabrahma-maya = consisting of/filled with ‘śabda-brahman’)

• yat: which
• yat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/relative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धक

• tat: that
• tat: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; निर्देश

• mahā-vākya-ādikam: the Mahāvākyas and the like
• mahā-vākya-ādikam: Karma (कर्म/Object/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + vākya (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (mahāvākya + ādi = ‘mahāvākyas etc.’)

• dvija: O twice-born (brahmin)
• dvija: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• tat-vicāra-udbhavam: arising from inquiry into that
• tat-vicāra-udbhavam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम) + vicāra (प्रातिपदिक) + udbhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (tad-vicāra-udbhava = arising from inquiry into that)

• jñānam: knowledge
• jñānam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• param: supreme
• param: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• mokṣasya: of liberation
• mokṣasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mokṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• sādhanam: means/instrument
• sādhanam: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sādhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada / addressing a dvija disciple in the dialogue style)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It states that liberation is attained through supreme knowledge born from vicāra (deep inquiry) into Upaniṣadic Mahāvākyas—revealing Śabda-Brahman as a direct means to moksha.

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

While the verse foregrounds jñāna via Mahāvākya-reflection, it supports Bhakti by grounding devotion in right understanding—knowledge of Brahman/Vishnu’s highest reality strengthens single-pointed devotion rather than replacing it.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It implicitly highlights Vyākaraṇa and Mīmāṃsā-style precision in handling Vedic language: since moksha-knowledge arises from inquiry into śabda (Vedic statements), correct interpretation of words and sentences is essential.