Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 87

Śrāddha-prayoga: Niyama, Brāhmaṇa-parīkṣā, Kutapa-kāla, Tithi-nyāya, and Vaiṣṇava-phala

Devanagari script

आधारभूतो विश्वस्य सर्वभूतात्मकोऽव्ययः । अनौपम्यस्वभावश्च भगवान्हव्यकव्यभुक् ॥ ८७ ॥

Transliteration

ādhārabhūto viśvasya sarvabhūtātmako'vyayaḥ | anaupamyasvabhāvaśca bhagavānhavyakavyabhuk || 87 ||

Translation

彼は宇宙の基盤であり、あらゆる存在の不滅の内なるアートマンである。比類なき本性をもつ福徳の主は、聖火に投じられる供物（ハヴィヤ）と祖霊への供養（カヴィヤ）とを受け味わわれる。

Word by Word

• आधारभूतः: having become the support; foundational
• आधारभूतः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आधार-भूत (प्रातिपदिक; भूत = √भू धातु-कृत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; भूत-प्रत्ययान्त (क्त) कृदन्त, विशेषण

• विश्वस्य: of the universe
• विश्वस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• सर्वभूतात्मकः: whose essence is all beings
• सर्वभूतात्मकः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-भूत-आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः (सर्वभूतानाम् आत्मा/स्वरूपम् इति)

• अव्ययः: imperishable
• अव्ययः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अनौपम्यस्वभावः: of incomparable nature
• अनौपम्यस्वभावः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनौपम्य-स्वभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (अनौपम्यः स्वभावः यस्य)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• हव्यकव्यभुक्: eater/receiver of havya and kavya offerings
• हव्यकव्यभुक्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject-appositive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हव्य-कव्य-भुज् (प्रातिपदिक; भुज् = √भुज् धातु-कृत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—हव्यं च कव्यं च (द्वन्द्व) + भुक् (भुज्-धातोः क्विप्/कृदन्त, ‘भक्षक/भोक्ता’)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada about Vishnu’s supreme nature)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavan (Vishnu/Narayana)

FAQs

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

It establishes Bhagavan as both cosmic support (ādhāra) and the indwelling Self of every being, guiding the seeker to see the One Lord behind all existence and thus move toward devotion and liberation.

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

By calling the Lord ‘incomparable’ and the inner Self of all, it directs bhakti toward a single supreme refuge; worship becomes universal reverence—serving beings while remembering the same Lord within them.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to ritual categories central to śrauta–smārta practice: havya (deva-yajña offerings) and kavya (pitṛ-oblations/śrāddha), affirming that their ultimate receiver is Bhagavan.