Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 19

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

Devanagari script

वसंति तत्र भूतानि भूतात्मन्यखिलात्मनि । सर्वभूतेष्वशेषेषु वकारार्थस्ततोऽव्ययः ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

vasaṃti tatra bhūtāni bhūtātmanyakhilātmani | sarvabhūteṣvaśeṣeṣu vakārārthastato'vyayaḥ || 18 ||

Translation

സകലഭൂതങ്ങളും ഭൂതാത്മനായ അഖിലാത്മനിൽ വസിക്കുന്നു. അവൻ എല്ലാ ജീവികളിലും അവശേഷമില്ലാതെ അധിവസിക്കുന്നതിനാൽ ‘വ’ അക്ഷരത്തിന്റെ അർത്ഥം അവ്യയൻ (അവിനാശി) ആകുന്നു.

Word by Word

• vasaṃti: dwell/abide
• vasaṃti: Kriyā (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vas (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन); parasmaipada

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of place (देशवाचक अव्यय)

• bhūtāni: beings
• bhūtāni: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• bhūtātmani: in the soul/self of beings
• bhūtātmani: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūta (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa ‘(in) the Self of beings’

• akhilātmani: in the all-pervading Self
• akhilātmani: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: akhila (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); karmadhāraya ‘the all-encompassing Self’

• sarvabhūteṣu: in all beings
• sarvabhūteṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन); ‘in all beings’

• aśeṣeṣu: without remainder/entire
• aśeṣeṣu: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन); adjective qualifying sarvabhūteṣu

• vakārārthaḥ: the meaning of ‘va’
• vakārārthaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vakāra (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa ‘meaning of the letter va’

• tataḥ: therefore/from that
• tataḥ: Hetu/Apādāna-dyotaka (अपादान/कारणसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Ablatival adverb (तस्मात्-अर्थे अव्यय)

• avyayaḥ: imperishable/unchanging
• avyayaḥ: Viśeṣya-predicative (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: avyaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); predicate adjective (to vakārārthaḥ)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a Moksha-Dharma context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Avyaya (the Imperishable)
• Atman (Self)

FAQs

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

It teaches non-dual contemplation: the Imperishable Supreme is the inner Self of all beings, and realizing His all-pervasion is presented as a direct support for moksha (liberation).

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

By identifying the Lord as present in every being, it grounds bhakti in reverence and remembrance everywhere—devotion becomes constant because the beloved (the Avyaya) abides in all.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Vyakarana/Nirukta-style mantra-meaning analysis (akshara/varna-artha), using the syllable “va” as a contemplative cue to remember the Imperishable reality.