Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 23

Nārada’s Hymn to Viṣṇu

Nāradasya Viṣṇu-stavaḥ

Devanagari script

ज्ञानाय ज्ञानगम्याय सर्वज्ञानैकहेतवे । ज्ञानेश्वराय ज्ञेयाय ज्ञात्रे विज्ञानसम्पदे ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

jñānāya jñānagamyāya sarvajñānaikahetave | jñāneśvarāya jñeyāya jñātre vijñānasampade || 23 ||

Translation

Sembah sujud kepada-Nya yang merupakan Pengetahuan itu sendiri; yang dicapai melalui pengetahuan; satu-satunya sebab bagi segala pengetahuan; Penguasa pengetahuan; Yang patut diketahui; Sang Mengetahui; dan kelimpahan kebijaksanaan yang terealisasi (vijñāna).

Word by Word

• jñānāya: to Knowledge
• jñānāya: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• jñānagamyāya: to the one attainable by knowledge
• jñānagamyāya: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jñānagamya (jñāna-gamya)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• sarvajñānaikahetave: to the sole cause of all knowledge
• sarvajñānaikahetave: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarvajñānaikahetu (sarva-jñāna-eka-hetu)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• jñāneśvarāya: to the Lord of knowledge
• jñāneśvarāya: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāneśvara (jñāna-īśvara)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• jñeyāya: to the object of knowledge (to be known)
• jñeyāya: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jñeya (jñā + yat)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular, Potential Participle

• jñātre: to the Knower
• jñātre: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• vijñānasampade: to the wealth of wisdom
• vijñānasampade: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vijñānasampad (vijñāna-sampad)
• Form: Feminine (used as attribute here), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

Speaker

Sūta (narrative benediction/invocation style)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It identifies the Supreme (understood as Viṣṇu) as both the means and the goal of knowledge—He is knowledge, the knower, and the object to be known—thereby grounding liberation (mokṣa) in realized wisdom (vijñāna), not mere information.

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

By praising the Lord as the very source and fulfillment of knowledge, the verse supports bhakti as reverent contemplation and surrender to the all-knowing Lord—devotion matures into insight when the devotee seeks Him as the ultimate ‘jñeya’ (the One to be known).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes the distinction between jñāna (scriptural/disciplinary knowledge) and vijñāna (assimilated realization), encouraging study disciplines supported by Vedāṅgas—especially Vyākaraṇa and Nirukta for precise meaning—so learning culminates in direct understanding.