Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 15

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

Devanagari script

अध्यक्षः सर्वकार्याणां देहिनो हृदये स्थितः । अनूपमोऽखिलाधारस्तां देवं शरणं व्रजेत् ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

adhyakṣaḥ sarvakāryāṇāṃ dehino hṛdaye sthitaḥ | anūpamo'khilādhārastāṃ devaṃ śaraṇaṃ vrajet || 15 ||

Translation

Pengawas Tertinggi segala perbuatan bersemayam di dalam hati makhluk yang berjasad. Tiada bandingan, penopang seluruhnya—kepada Tuhan Ilahi itu hendaklah kita berlindung (śaraṇa).

Word by Word

• अध्यक्षः: overseer, controller
• अध्यक्षः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्यक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सर्वकार्याणाम्: of all actions
• सर्वकार्याणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय ‘सर्वाणि कार्याणि’

• देहिनः: of the embodied being
• देहिनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देहिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• हृदये: in the heart
• हृदये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• स्थितः: situated
• स्थितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थित (कृदन्त; √स्था धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past participle)

• अनूपमः: incomparable
• अनूपमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनूपम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः—तत्पुरुष ‘न उपमः यस्य’ (incomparable)

• अखिलाधारः: support of all
• अखिलाधारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक) + आधार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष ‘अखिलस्य आधारः’

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• देवम्: the god
• देवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘तम्’ इत्यस्य विशेष्य (appositional)

• शरणम्: refuge
• शरणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (as object-complement)

• व्रजेत्: should go/seek
• व्रजेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; विध्यर्थ (should)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in the Narada Purana’s didactic dialogue tradition, aligned with Sanatkumara-style instruction)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

Secondary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Characters & Entities

• Deva (the indwelling Supreme Lord/Paramatman)

FAQs

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

It teaches that the Supreme Lord is present as the inner overseer in the heart of every embodied being, so liberation-oriented life should be grounded in surrender (śaraṇāgati) to that ever-present Divine support of all.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as taking refuge in the Lord who is not distant but seated within the heart—devotion becomes an inner turning, trusting Him as the incomparable foundation of all existence and the guide of one’s actions.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; its practical takeaway is ethical-spiritual discipline: act with awareness that the Lord witnesses and governs all actions, and cultivate surrender as a daily sādhanā.