Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 27

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

Devanagari script

स सर्वभूतप्रकृतिं विकारं गुणादिदोषांश्च मुने व्यतीतः । अतीतसर्वावरणोऽखिलात्मा तेनास्तृतं यद्भुवनांतरालम् ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

sa sarvabhūtaprakṛtiṃ vikāraṃ guṇādidoṣāṃśca mune vyatītaḥ | atītasarvāvaraṇo'khilātmā tenāstṛtaṃ yadbhuvanāṃtarālam || 26 ||

Translation

ഹേ മുനേ! അവൻ സകലഭൂതങ്ങളുടെ പ്രകൃതിയും അതിന്റെ വികാരങ്ങളും, ഗുണാദിദോഷങ്ങളും അതിക്രമിച്ചവൻ. സർവാവരണാതീതനായ അഖിലാത്മൻ അവൻ തന്നേ; ഭുവനങ്ങൾക്കിടയിലെ സമസ്ത അന്തരാളവും അവനാൽ പരിവ്യാപ്തമാണ്.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सर्व-भूत-प्रकृतिम्: the nature of all beings
• सर्व-भूत-प्रकृतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: सर्वेषां भूतानां प्रकृतिः

• विकारम्: modification; change
• विकारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• गुण-आदि-दोषान्: faults such as (those arising from) the guṇas
• गुण-आदि-दोषान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + दोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: गुणाः आदयः येषां ते दोषाः

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/vocative), एकवचन

• व्यतीतः: having transcended
• व्यतीतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + अति + √इ (धातु) गत्यर्थे; व्यतीत (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘having transcended’

• अतीत-सर्व-आवरणः: one whose all coverings are transcended
• अतीत-सर्व-आवरणः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतीत (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त) + सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आवरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: अतीतानि सर्वाणि आवरणानि यस्य सः

• अखिल-आत्मा: the Self of all
• अखिल-आत्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: अखिलस्य आत्मा/आत्मभूतः (the self of all)

• तेन: by him/thereby
• तेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• आस्तृतम्: is pervaded/covered
• आस्तृतम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + √स्तृ (धातु) आच्छादने; आस्तृत (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘covered/pervaded’

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• भुवन-अन्तरालम्: the expanse within the world(s)
• भुवन-अन्तरालम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुवन (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तराल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: भुवनस्य अन्तरालम्

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in Moksha-Dharma context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It identifies the Supreme Reality as beyond prakṛti, its transformations, and the limitations of the guṇas, while simultaneously affirming His all-pervading presence as the inner Self of all.

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

By portraying the Lord as the universal Self who pervades all realms and is untouched by material qualities, it encourages bhakti directed to the transcendent yet immanent God—devotion to the One who is beyond guṇas but present in all.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is a Vedāntic discernment (viveka) used in mokṣa-dharma—recognizing guṇa-based limitations as not belonging to the Supreme Self.