Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 55

Śuka’s Yoga-ascent, the Echo of ‘Bhoḥ’, and the Vaikuṇṭha Vision

Devanagari script

चतुर्व्युहाय वेद्याय ध्येयाय परमात्मने । नरनारायणाख्याय शिषिविष्टाय विष्णवे ॥ ५५ ॥

Transliteration

caturvyuhāya vedyāya dhyeyāya paramātmane | naranārāyaṇākhyāya śiṣiviṣṭāya viṣṇave || 55 ||

Translation

ചതുര്വ്യൂഹ തത്ത്വത്തിലൂടെ ജ്ഞേയനും വേദ്യനും ധ്യേയനും ആയ പരമാത്മാവിന്; നര-നാരായണൻ എന്ന നാമത്തിൽ പ്രസിദ്ധനായി, ശിഷ്യന്റെ അന്തരത്തിൽ അധിഷ്ഠിതനായ വിഷ്ണുവിന് നമസ്കാരം।

Word by Word

• चतुर्-व्यूहाय: to the fourfold emanation (Caturvyūha)
• चतुर्-व्यूहाय: सम्प्रदान (Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक) + व्यूह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; समासः—द्विगुः (चत्वारः व्यूहाः—वासुदेव-संकरषण-प्रद्युम्न-अनिरुद्ध)

• वेद्याय: to the knowable one
• वेद्याय: सम्प्रदान (Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (ज्ञेयः)

• ध्येयाय: to the one to be meditated upon
• ध्येयाय: सम्प्रदान (Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्येय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (ध्यानयोग्यः)

• परम-आत्मने: to the Supreme Self
• परम-आत्मने: सम्प्रदान (Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (परमः आत्मा)

• नर-नारायण-आख्याय: to the one named Nara-Nārāyaṇa
• नर-नारायण-आख्याय: सम्प्रदान (Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक) + नारायण (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (नरनारायण इति आख्या यस्य)

• शिषि-विशिष्टाय: to the one distinguished by disciples/sages
• शिषि-विशिष्टाय: सम्प्रदान (Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिषि (प्रातिपदिक) + विशिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (शिषिणा/शिषिभिः विशिष्टः)

• विष्णवे: to Viṣṇu
• विष्णवे: सम्प्रदान (Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (in a devotional-stotra context within the Moksha Dharma teaching stream)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Paramatma
• Nara-Narayana
• Caturvyuha

FAQs

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

It frames Viṣṇu as the Supreme Self who is both knowable through śāstra and realizable through meditation, presenting liberation (mokṣa) as grounded in devotion and inner contemplation of the indwelling Lord.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as reverent surrender to Viṣṇu in multiple theological forms—Vyūha, Paramātmā, and Nara-Nārāyaṇa—showing that devotion includes study (knowing), meditation (dhyāna), and recognition of God within the heart.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

While not a technical Vedāṅga instruction, it emphasizes the practical use of śāstric knowledge—using correct doctrinal understanding (vedya) as a support for dhyāna, which aligns with the broader Narada Purana method of combining scriptural learning with spiritual practice.