Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18
The Greatness of Viṣṇu
Uttaṅka’s Hymn, Hari’s Manifestation, and the Boon of Bhakti
वासुदेवात्मकान्याहुः क्षेत्रं क्षेत्रज्ञमेव च । विद्याविद्यात्मकं प्राहुः परात्परतरं तथा ॥ १८ ॥
vāsudevātmakānyāhuḥ kṣetraṃ kṣetrajñameva ca | vidyāvidyātmakaṃ prāhuḥ parātparataraṃ tathā || 18 ||
Declaram que tanto o “campo” (kṣetra) quanto o “conhecedor do campo” (kṣetrajña) são da própria natureza de Vāsudeva. Dizem também que o conhecimento e a ignorância são constituídos por Ele; e que Ele é o Supremo—mais alto até do que o mais alto.
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the dialogue context)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It presents Vāsudeva as the all-inclusive Reality: the world as ‘field,’ the inner witness as ‘knower,’ and even the play of knowledge and ignorance are understood as dependent on Him—affirming His position as the Supreme beyond all gradations.
By identifying every level of experience—outer world, inner self, clarity, and confusion—as resting in Vāsudeva, the verse supports single-pointed devotion: the devotee learns to see all conditions as leading back to Vishnu, the highest refuge.
No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; instead, it frames a Vedāntic interpretive key used across śāstra—reading kṣetra/kṣetrajña and vidyā/avidyā as categories ultimately subordinated to the Supreme (Vāsudeva).