Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18

Threefold Suffering, Twofold Knowledge, and the Definition of Bhagavān (Vāsudeva); Prelude to Keśidhvaja–Janaka Yoga

Devanagari script

ऐश्वर्यस्य समग्रस्य वीर्यस्य यशसः श्रियः । ज्ञानवैराग्ययोश्चैव षण्णां भग इतीरणा ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

aiśvaryasya samagrasya vīryasya yaśasaḥ śriyaḥ | jñānavairāgyayoścaiva ṣaṇṇāṃ bhaga itīraṇā || 17 ||

Translation

സമ്പൂർണ്ണ ഐശ്വര്യം, വീര്യം, യശസ്, ശ്രീ-സമൃദ്ധി, കൂടാതെ ജ്ഞാനവും വൈരാഗ്യവും—ഈ ആറും ‘ഭഗ’ എന്നു പ്രസ്താവിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• aiśvaryasya: of sovereignty/opulence
• aiśvaryasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aiśvarya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• samagrasya: of complete/entire
• samagrasya: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samagra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying aiśvaryasya

• vīryasya: of valor/power
• vīryasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• yaśasaḥ: of fame
• yaśasaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yaśas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• śriyaḥ: of prosperity/splendor
• śriyaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• jñānavairāgyayoḥ: of knowledge and dispassion
• jñānavairāgyayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक) + vairāgya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Dual (द्विवचन); itaretara-dvandva ‘knowledge and dispassion’

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक अव्यय)

• ṣaṇṇām: of (the) six
• ṣaṇṇām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṣaṭ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (All genders), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन); numeral adjective qualifying the six items listed

• bhagaḥ: (this is) ‘bhaga’ (lordly excellence)
• bhagaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhaga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyārtha-dyotaka (वाक्यार्थद्योतक/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-प्रयोग/वाक्यसमाप्तिसूचक अव्यय)

• īraṇā: the designation/utterance
• īraṇā: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īraṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Sanatkumāra (teaching Nārada on Mokṣa-dharma and the definition of Bhagavān)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavan
• Shri (Lakshmi)

FAQs

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

It defines “bhaga” as the six divine perfections; recognizing these in Bhagavān supports right understanding (jñāna) and steady devotion leading toward mokṣa.

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

Bhakti is grounded in knowing who Bhagavān is; the verse provides Bhagavān’s defining attributes, helping the devotee focus worship on the Supreme endowed with complete lordship, glory, and liberating wisdom.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It functions like a nirukta-style definitional gloss (technical meaning of a key term), clarifying doctrinal vocabulary rather than prescribing a ritual or jyotiṣa calculation.