Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 16

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

Devanagari script

सर्वं संगृह्य कल्पांते शेते यस्तु जले स्वयम् । तं प्राहुर्मोक्षदं विष्णुं मुनयस्तत्त्वदर्शिनः ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

sarvaṃ saṃgṛhya kalpāṃte śete yastu jale svayam | taṃ prāhurmokṣadaṃ viṣṇuṃ munayastattvadarśinaḥ || 16 ||

Translation

劫の終わりに、万物を自らに収め、ただ独り水上に横たわる御方がいる。真理を観る牟尼たちは、その御方を解脱を授けるヴィシュヌと宣言する。

Word by Word

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

• संगृह्य: having gathered/withdrawn
• संगृह्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+√ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive)

• कल्पान्ते: at the end of the aeon
• कल्पान्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्पान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष ‘कल्पस्य अन्ते’

• शेते: lies (reclines)
• शेते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √शी (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थ

• जले: in the waters
• जले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• स्वयम्: by himself
• स्वयम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), आत्मवाचक/स्वतन्त्रार्थ (by oneself)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्राहुः: they call
• प्राहुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• मोक्षदम्: giver of liberation
• मोक्षदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + द (कृदन्त; √दा धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of ‘विष्णुम्/तम्’)

• विष्णुम्: Vishnu
• विष्णुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘तम्’ इत्यस्य विशेष्य (apposition)

• मुनयः: sages
• मुनयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• तत्त्वदर्शिनः: seers of truth
• तत्त्वदर्शिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक) + दर्शिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of ‘मुनयः’); समासः—तत्पुरुष ‘तत्त्वं पश्यन्ति इति’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Purva Bhaga dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)

Secondary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Sages (Munis)

FAQs

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

It identifies Vishnu as both the cosmic refuge at pralaya (the end of the kalpa) and the direct bestower of moksha, grounding liberation in devotion to the Supreme who transcends creation and dissolution.

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

By presenting Vishnu as the ultimate reality recognized by tattvadarśin sages and as mokṣada (giver of liberation), it implies that turning one’s faith, remembrance, and worship toward Vishnu is a complete spiritual path leading beyond cyclical time.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse is primarily theological and cosmological rather than Vedanga-technical; its practical takeaway is a Purāṇic siddhānta used in teaching and recitation—Vishnu is the final refuge at pralaya and the goal of spiritual practice (moksha).