Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 6
The Greatness of Viṣṇu
Uttaṅka’s Hymn, Hari’s Manifestation, and the Boon of Bhakti
आत्माक्षरः सर्वगतोऽच्युताख्यो ज्ञानात्मको ज्ञानविदां शरण्यः । ज्ञानैकवेद्यो भगवाननादिः प्रसीदतां व्यष्टिसमष्टिरूपः ॥ ६ ॥
ātmākṣaraḥ sarvagato'cyutākhyo jñānātmako jñānavidāṃ śaraṇyaḥ | jñānaikavedyo bhagavānanādiḥ prasīdatāṃ vyaṣṭisamaṣṭirūpaḥ || 6 ||
અચ્યુત નામે તે ભગવાન—અક્ષર આત્મા, સર્વવ્યાપી, જ્ઞાનસ્વરૂપ, બ્રહ્મજ્ઞાનીજનનો આશ્રય; માત્ર શુદ્ધ જ્ઞાનથી જ જ્ઞેય, અનાદિ, અને વ્યષ્ટિ-સમષ્ટિ રૂપે પ્રગટ—અમારા પર પ્રસન્ન થાઓ।
Narada (stuti/prayer within the dialogue tradition associated with Sanatkumara teachings)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It identifies Vishnu (Acyuta) as the imperishable Self (Akshara) who pervades all, and teaches that liberation depends on realizing Him through true knowledge, while seeking His grace as the ultimate refuge.
Bhakti here is expressed as śaraṇāgati—taking Bhagavan as the refuge of the wise—and as a prayer for prasāda (divine grace), grounded in the understanding of His all-pervading, beginningless nature.
The verse prioritizes jñāna over mere external performance: it implies that correct understanding (supported by śāstra-based study and disciplined inquiry) is essential for realizing the Akshara, even when rituals are practiced.