Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 36

The Exposition of Spiritual Knowledge

Jñāna-pradarśanam

Devanagari script

शिष्यैः परिवृतं तत्र मुनिं जानन्तिसंज्ञकम् । गृणन्तं परमं ब्रह्म तेजोराशिं ददर्श ह ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

śiṣyaiḥ parivṛtaṃ tatra muniṃ jānantisaṃjñakam | gṛṇantaṃ paramaṃ brahma tejorāśiṃ dadarśa ha || 36 ||

Translation

അവിടെ ശിഷ്യന്മാർ ചുറ്റിനിന്ന ‘ജാനന്തി’ എന്ന മുനിയെ അവൻ കണ്ടു; പരബ്രഹ്മത്തെ ജപിച്ചു സ്തുതിക്കുന്ന അദ്ദേഹം ദിവ്യ തേജസ്സിന്റെ ഘനരാശിപോലെ ദീപ്തനായി തോന്നി।

Word by Word

• शिष्यैः: by disciples
• शिष्यैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• परिवृतम्: surrounded
• परिवृतम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pari-vṛta (प्रातिपदिक; √vṛ ‘to cover/surround’ क्त)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); past passive participle (क्त) qualifying मुनिम्

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), locative adverb (देशवाचक)

• मुनिम्: the sage
• मुनिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• जानन्ति: they know
• जानन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jñā (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• संज्ञकम्: named
• संज्ञकम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃjñaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); ‘named/called’ qualifying मुनिम्

• गृणन्तम्: praising
• गृणन्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gṛṇant (प्रातिपदिक; √gṛ/√gṝ शतृ)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); present active participle (शतृ) qualifying मुनिम्

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying ब्रह्म

• ब्रह्म: Brahman
• ब्रह्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); object of praising

• तेजोराशिम्: a mass of radiance
• तेजोराशिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tejas-rāśi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); apposition to मुनिम्

• ददर्श: saw
• ददर्श: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• ह: indeed/then
• ह: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle (निपात), narrative/emphatic

Speaker

Narrator (Purana narrative voice, traditionally Suta relating the account)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Jānanti (sage)
• Brahman

FAQs

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

It portrays a realized teacher whose praise of the Supreme Brahman manifests as palpable spiritual radiance, emphasizing that Brahman-centered contemplation transforms the practitioner and their environment.

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

By depicting continuous glorification (gṛṇantam) of the Supreme, it aligns devotion with focused praise and remembrance—suggesting that sustained stuti and absorption in the Highest is itself a direct spiritual discipline.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse highlights disciplined recitation/praise (gṛṇantam), which practically connects to Śikṣā (correct phonetics) and Chandas (metrical awareness) as supports for effective mantra-style chanting and scriptural recitation.