Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 1

Uttaraloka

Northern Higher World), Dharma–Adharma Viveka, and Adhyatma-Prashna (Prelude

Devanagari script

भरद्वाज उवाच । अस्माल्लोकात्परो लोकः श्रूयते नोपलभ्यते । तमहं ज्ञातुमिच्छामि तद्भवान्वक्तुमर्हति ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

bharadvāja uvāca | asmāllokātparo lokaḥ śrūyate nopalabhyate | tamahaṃ jñātumicchāmi tadbhavānvaktumarhati || 1 ||

Translation

ພະຣະດວາຊະ ກ່າວວ່າ: «ໄດ້ຍິນວ່າມີໂລກອື່ນທີ່ຢູ່ເທິງກວ່າໂລກນີ້ ແຕ່ບໍ່ອາດເຫັນໄດ້ໂດຍກົງ. ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າປາຖະໜາຈະຮູ້ມັນ; ດັ່ງນັ້ນ ຂໍທ່ານເມດຕາກ່າວອະທິບາຍໃຫ້ຟັງ»។

Word by Word

• bharadvājaḥ: Bharadvāja
• bharadvājaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bharadvāja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• asmāt: from this
• asmāt: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (masc/neut), पञ्चमी विभक्ति (ablative/5th), एकवचन (singular)

• lokāt: world
• lokāt: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), पञ्चमी विभक्ति (ablative/5th), एकवचन (singular)

• paraḥ: other/beyond
• paraḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण (adjective) qualifying lokaḥ

• lokaḥ: world
• lokaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• śrūyate: is heard of
• śrūyate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular); कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• na: not
• na: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation particle)

• upalabhyate: is obtained/experienced
• upalabhyate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-labh (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular); कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• tam: that (world)
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम (1st person pronoun), प्रथमा विभक्ति (nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• jñātum: to know
• jñātum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/infinitival purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jñā (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), ‘to know’

• icchāmi: desire
• icchāmi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: iṣ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (singular)

• tat: that (matter)
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• bhavān: you (sir)
• bhavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular); आदरार्थक-सर्वनाम (honorific pronoun)

• vaktum: to tell
• vaktum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/infinitival complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), ‘to speak’

• arhati: is worthy/should
• arhati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arh (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

Speaker

Bharadvaja

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Bharadvaja

FAQs

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

It frames a moksha-focused inquiry: the “higher world” (paraloka) is known through śāstra and realized through disciplined spiritual means, not merely through the senses.

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

By admitting the limits of perception and turning to a realized teacher, the verse supports bhakti’s core posture—humble seeking (śaraṇāgati) and attentive hearing (śravaṇa) as the doorway to higher truth.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights pramāṇa-discipline—reliance on śabda (authoritative testimony) when pratyakṣa (sense perception) fails—an essential foundation for correct study and application of Vedic teachings.