Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 28

Dhvajāropaṇa and Dhvajāgopaṇa: Procedure, Stotra, and Phala (Merit) of Raising Viṣṇu’s Flag

Devanagari script

मायासङ्गममात्रेण वदन्ति पुरुषं त्वजम् । स्वभावविमलं शुद्धं निर्विकारं निरञ्जनम् ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

māyāsaṅgamamātreṇa vadanti puruṣaṃ tvajam | svabhāvavimalaṃ śuddhaṃ nirvikāraṃ nirañjanam || 28 ||

Translation

മായാസംഗമമാത്രം കൊണ്ടാണ് പുരുഷനെ ‘ജനിച്ചവൻ’ എന്നു പറയുന്നത്; യഥാർത്ഥത്തിൽ അവൻ സ്വഭാവതഃ വിമലൻ, ശുദ്ധൻ, നിർവികാരൻ, നിരഞ്ജനൻ।

Word by Word

• माया-सङ्गम-मात्रेण: by mere association with māyā
• माया-सङ्गम-मात्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक) + सङ्गम (प्रातिपदिक) + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; समासः—माया-सङ्गमः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः) + तस्य मात्रम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः); Instrumental: “by/through mere contact with māyā”

• वदन्ति: they say
• वदन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम

• पुरुषम्: the Person (Supreme Person)
• पुरुषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle) — contrast/emphasis

• अजम्: unborn
• अजम्: Karma-anvaya (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier) पुरुषम् प्रति

• स्वभाव-विमलम्: pure by nature
• स्वभाव-विमलम्: Karma-anvaya (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वभाव (प्रातिपदिक) + विमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—स्वभावेन विमलः; विशेषणम् (पुरुषम् प्रति)

• शुद्धम्: pure
• शुद्धम्: Karma-anvaya (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (पुरुषम् प्रति)

• निर्विकारम्: unchanging
• निर्विकारम्: Karma-anvaya (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्विकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (पुरुषम् प्रति)

• निरञ्जनम्: stainless/untainted
• निरञ्जनम्: Karma-anvaya (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निरञ्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (पुरुषम् प्रति)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Purusha
• Maya

FAQs

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

It teaches that birth and change belong to Māyā’s association, not to the Supreme Puruṣa; realizing the unborn, stainless, unchanging nature of the Self is central to mokṣa.

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

By affirming the Lord’s purity and freedom from defects, it supports bhakti grounded in right understanding: devotion is offered to the nirañjana, nirvikāra Supreme, not to a limited, conditioned entity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa) is taught directly; the verse is primarily Vedāntic—clarifying tattva (truth) about Māyā and the unborn Puruṣa.