Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 66
The Exposition of Spiritual Knowledge
Jñāna-pradarśanam
स्वप्रकाशात्मनो विप्र नित्यस्य परमात्मनः । अनन्तस्य क्रिया चैव कथं जन्म च कथ्यते ॥ ६६ ॥
svaprakāśātmano vipra nityasya paramātmanaḥ | anantasya kriyā caiva kathaṃ janma ca kathyate || 66 ||
ഹേ വിപ്രാ! സ്വപ്രകാശനും നിത്യനും അനന്തനുമായ പരമാത്മാവിനെക്കുറിച്ച് ക്രിയയും ജന്മവും എങ്ങനെ പറയാം?
Narada (addressing a vipra in the dialogue context of metaphysical inquiry)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: none
FAQs
It asserts the transcendence of the Paramatman: being self-revealing, eternal, and infinite, the Supreme is not literally subject to karmic action or biological birth; such descriptions are only provisional ways of speaking.
By highlighting that the Supreme is beyond ordinary categories like “birth” and “action,” the verse encourages bhakti grounded in reverence for Vishnu/Paramatman as the timeless reality, while understanding divine “incarnations” as compassionate manifestations for devotees.
It implicitly points to Vyākaraṇa and Nirukta (grammar and etymology): scriptural language about God’s “birth” and “deeds” must be interpreted carefully, distinguishing literal meaning from intended doctrinal meaning.