Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 167
The Exposition of Nṛsiṁha Worship-Mantras, Nyāsa, Mudrās, Yantras, Kavaca, and Nṛsiṁha Gāyatrī
चैतन्यात्मन्श्चतुरात्मन्द्वादशात्मन्स्ततः परम् । चतुर्विंशात्मन्नन्ते तु पञ्चविंशात्मन्नित्यपि ॥ १६७ ॥
caitanyātmanścaturātmandvādaśātmanstataḥ param | caturviṃśātmannante tu pañcaviṃśātmannityapi || 167 ||
ஆத்மா ‘சைதன்யம்’ எனச் சொல்லப்படுகிறது; மேலும் ‘சதுராத்மா’ என்றும். அதன் பின் ‘த்வாதசாத்மா’; பின்னர் ‘சதுர்விம்சாத்மா’; இறுதியில் ‘நித்ய பஞ்சவிம்சாத்மா’—என்றும் நிலைக்கும் இருபத்தைந்தாம் ஆத்மா—என்றும் கூறப்படுகிறது.
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a Vedanga/technical enumeration style)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It maps progressively subtler understandings of the Self—from consciousness and functional groupings up to the twenty-four tattvas—culminating in the eternal twenty-fifth, the Puruṣa/Ātman beyond material principles, indicating liberation through discernment.
By distinguishing the eternal twenty-fifth Self from the twenty-four principles, it supports bhakti as devotion to the transcendent reality (Puruṣa), not merely to changing psycho-physical constituents—devotion becomes anchored in the nitya (eternal).
A technical, śāstra-style classification (tattva-saṅkhyā/saṅkhyāna) used in Vedanga-influenced teaching: precise enumeration and definition of categories to aid correct understanding and disciplined study.