Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 8

Threefold Suffering, Twofold Knowledge, and the Definition of Bhagavān (Vāsudeva); Prelude to Keśidhvaja–Janaka Yoga

Devanagari script

द्वे ब्रह्मणी वेदितव्ये शब्दब्रह्म परं च यत् । शब्दब्रह्मणि निष्णातः परं ब्रह्माधिगच्छति ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

dve brahmaṇī veditavye śabdabrahma paraṃ ca yat | śabdabrahmaṇi niṣṇātaḥ paraṃ brahmādhigacchati || 8 ||

Translation

พรหมันมีสองประการที่พึงรู้—ศัพทพรหมัน (พรหมันเป็นเสียงศักดิ์สิทธิ์) และปรพรหมันอันสูงสุด ผู้ชำนาญในศัพทพรหมันย่อมบรรลุปรพรหมัน.

Word by Word

• द्वे: two
• द्वे: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; संख्याविशेषण (numeral adjective)

• ब्रह्मणी: two Brahmans / two aspects of Brahman
• ब्रह्मणी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; ‘ब्रह्म’ (two kinds of Brahman)

• वेदितव्ये: to be known
• वेदितव्ये: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विद् (धातु) + तव्य (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: तव्यत्-कृदन्त (gerundive/future passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; ‘to be known’

• शब्दब्रह्म: sound-Brahman (Vedic word)
• शब्दब्रह्म: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शब्द (प्रातिपदिक) + ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-भाव: ‘Brahman in the form of sound/word’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• परम्: the supreme (Brahman)
• परम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘the supreme (Brahman)’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• यत्: which
• यत्: Anuyogī (अनुयोगी/relative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• शब्दब्रह्मणि: in sound-Brahman
• शब्दब्रह्मणि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शब्दब्रह्म (प्रातिपदिक; समस्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

• निष्णातः: one who is well-versed
• निष्णातः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि + स्ना (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-कृदन्त (past passive participle, used adjectivally); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘well-versed/bathed (in)’

• परम्: the supreme (Brahman)
• परम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• ब्रह्म: Brahman
• ब्रह्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• अधिगच्छति: attains / realizes
• अधिगच्छति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि + गम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present indicative), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Moksha Dharma context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Veda

FAQs

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

It distinguishes scriptural Brahman (Veda/mantra as śabda-brahman) from the transcendent Supreme Brahman, teaching that disciplined mastery of sacred sound becomes a doorway to direct realization of the Supreme.

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

While phrased in jñāna terms, it supports bhakti by implying that mantra, nāma, and Vedic recitation (śabda-brahman) purify and focus the mind—making one fit to realize the Supreme Reality that bhakti seeks.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to the disciplined study of śabda—proper recitation and understanding of Vedic language—supported by Vedāṅgas like Śikṣā (phonetics), Vyākaraṇa (grammar), and Chandas (meter) as foundations for becoming 'niṣṇāta' in śabda-brahman.