Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 146

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

Devanagari script

निर्गुणोऽपि परो देवो ह्यज्ञानाद्गुणवानिव । विभात्यज्ञाननाशे तु यथापूर्वं व्यवस्थितम् ॥ ४६ ॥

Transliteration

nirguṇo'pi paro devo hyajñānādguṇavāniva | vibhātyajñānanāśe tu yathāpūrvaṃ vyavasthitam || 46 ||

Translation

పరమదేవుడు నిర్గుణుడైనప్పటికీ అజ్ఞాన కారణంగా గుణవంతుడివలె కనిపిస్తాడు; అజ్ఞానం నశించినప్పుడు ఆయన యథాపూర్వంగా తన స్వస్వరూపంలో స్థితుడై ప్రకాశిస్తాడు।

Word by Word

• nirguṇaḥ: without qualities
• nirguṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nirguṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• api: even though
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-अव्ययम् (even/also)

• paraḥ: supreme
• paraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• devaḥ: the Lord (deva)
• devaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम्

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात-अव्ययम् (indeed/for)

• ajñānāt: due to ignorance
• ajñānāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ajñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे पञ्चमी-एकवचनम् (ablative singular); हेतुः (cause)

• guṇavān: possessing qualities
• guṇavān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: guṇavat (प्रातिपदिक; मतुप्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• iva: as if
• iva: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्ययम् (like/as if)

• vibhāti: shines/appears
• vibhāti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-bhā (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present); परस्मैपदम्; प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• ajñāna-nāśe: when ignorance is destroyed
• ajñāna-nāśe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ajñāna (प्रातिपदिक) + nāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी-एकवचनम्; अधिकरणम्; तत्पुरुष-समासः (अज्ञानस्य नाशः)

• tu: then/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण/विरोध-अव्ययम् (but/indeed)

• yathā-pūrvam: as before
• yathā-pūrvam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + pūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb)

• vyavasthitam: (it is) established/settled
• vyavasthitam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-ava-sthā (धातु) → vyavasthita (कृदन्त/क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचनम्; भावे/वस्तुनि ‘स्थितम्’ (established); (अत्र ‘यथापूर्वं’ इति सह—‘as previously established’)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a jñāna-oriented exposition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)

Characters & Entities

• Deva (Supreme Lord)

FAQs

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

It teaches that the Supreme is inherently nirguṇa (beyond material qualities), and the sense that God has limiting attributes arises from ajñāna; liberation is the clear recognition of His original, unchanged reality.

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

It implies that bhakti matures from worshiping the Lord as perceived (with qualities and forms) to realizing His transcendence; devotion becomes purified as ignorance falls away and the Lord is known as He truly is.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is Vedāntic discernment (viveka) between appearance born of ignorance and the Lord’s true, unconditioned nature.