Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 149

Mokṣopāya: Bhakti-rooted Jñāna and the Aṣṭāṅga Yoga of Viṣṇu-Meditation

Devanagari script

अणोरणीयान्महतो महीयान्सनातनात्माखिलविश्वहेतुः । पश्यंति यज्ज्ञानविदां वरिष्टाः परात्परस्मात्परमं पवित्रम् ॥ ४९ ॥

Transliteration

aṇoraṇīyānmahato mahīyānsanātanātmākhilaviśvahetuḥ | paśyaṃti yajjñānavidāṃ variṣṭāḥ parātparasmātparamaṃ pavitram || 49 ||

Translation

അവൻ അണുവിലും അണു, മഹത്തിലും മഹാൻ—സനാതനാത്മാവ്, അഖിലവിശ്വത്തിന്റെ കാരണം; ജ്ഞാനികളിൽ ശ്രേഷ്ഠർ അവനെ പരാത്പരമായ പരമപവിത്ര സത്യമായി ദർശിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• अणोः: of the atom/minute
• अणोः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अणु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन

• अणीयान्: smaller (than)
• अणीयान्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अणीयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; तद्धित-तुलनात्मक (comparative)

• महतः: than the great
• महतः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन

• महीयान्: greater (than)
• महीयान्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महीयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तद्धित-तुलनात्मक (comparative)

• सनातनात्मा: the eternal Self
• सनातनात्मा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनातन (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (सनातनः आत्मा)

• अखिलविश्वहेतुः: cause of the entire universe
• अखिलविश्वहेतुः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक) + विश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अखिलस्य विश्वस्य हेतुः)

• पश्यन्ति: see
• पश्यन्ति: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• यत्: whom/which
• यत्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम

• ज्ञानविदाम्: of the knowers of knowledge
• ज्ञानविदाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञानविद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (ज्ञानं वेत्ति इति)

• वरिष्ठाः: the best (among them)
• वरिष्ठाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; श्रेष्ठतम (superlative)

• परात्: from/beyond the higher
• परात्: अपादान (Apadana/Comparison source)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी (5th case), एकवचन

• परस्मात्: from/beyond the higher
• परस्मात्: अपादान (Apadana/Comparison source)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी, एकवचन

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• पवित्रम्: the pure (reality)
• पवित्रम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पवित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the wisdom-dialogue style)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)

Secondary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Characters & Entities

• Paramatman
• Brahman

FAQs

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

It identifies the Supreme Reality as both immanent (subtler than the subtlest) and transcendent (greater than the greatest), teaching that liberation comes through direct realization of the supremely pure Paramatman by perfected knowers.

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

By declaring the Supreme as the ultimate purifier and universal cause, it supports bhakti as single-pointed contemplation and surrender to that highest Lord—whose greatness exceeds all—leading to inner purity and vision of Him.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse is primarily tattva/jñāna-oriented rather than technical Vedanga instruction; practically, it aligns with Upanishadic-style discernment (viveka) and contemplative recitation (svādhyāya) used to steady the mind on Brahman/Paramatman.