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Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 23

Śuka’s Yoga-ascent, the Echo of ‘Bhoḥ’, and the Vaikuṇṭha Vision

तस्यां क्रीडासु निरताः स्नांति चैवाप्सरोगणाः । निराकारं तु साकाराददृशुस्तं विवाससः ॥ २३ ॥

tasyāṃ krīḍāsu niratāḥ snāṃti caivāpsarogaṇāḥ | nirākāraṃ tu sākārādadṛśustaṃ vivāsasaḥ || 23 ||

ที่นั่นหมู่อัปสราผู้เพลิดเพลินในการละเล่นก็ลงอาบน้ำด้วย และแม้พวกนางจะมีรูปกาย ไร้เครื่องนุ่งห่ม ก็ยังได้ประจักษ์แด่พระองค์ผู้ไร้รูป

तस्याम्in her/therein (in that river)
तस्याम्:
अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन
क्रीडासुin sports; in play
क्रीडासु:
अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
TypeNoun
Rootक्रीडा (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी विभक्ति, बहुवचन (plural)
निरताःengaged; absorbed
निरताः:
विशेषण (Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootनिरत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; नि√रम्/रम्)
Formभूतकृत्/निष्पन्न-विशेषण (past participial adjective); पुल्लिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम्—अप्सरोगणाः
स्नान्तिbathe
स्नान्ति:
क्रिया (Action)
TypeVerb
Root√स्ना (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन
and
:
समुच्चय (Connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)
एवindeed
एव:
निपात (Emphasis)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; निपात (particle)
अप्सरः-गणाःgroups of apsarases
अप्सरः-गणाः:
कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootअप्सरस् (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुल्लिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (apsarasāṃ gaṇāḥ)
निराकारम्formless
निराकारम्:
विशेषण (Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootनिराकार (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्—तम्
तुbut; however
तु:
निपात (Discourse particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; विरोध/अन्वय-निपात (particle: but/indeed)
साकारात्from the one with form; from the embodied
साकारात्:
अपादान (Apādāna/Source)
TypeNoun
Rootसाकार (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी विभक्ति (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन
अदृशुःsaw
अदृशुः:
क्रिया (Action)
TypeVerb
Root√दृश् (धातु)
Formलिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन
तम्him
तम्:
कर्म (Karma/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुल्लिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन
विवाससःclad in splendid/varied garments
विवाससः:
कर्ता (Karta/Subject—apposition to apsarogaṇāḥ)
TypeAdjective
Rootवि + वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुल्लिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; नञ्-रहित उपसर्गयुक्त-विशेषण; अर्थः ‘विशेष-वस्त्रधारिणः/विविधवस्त्राः’ (contextual)

Narada

Vrata: none

Primary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)

Secondary Rasa: shanta (peace)

A
Apsaras

FAQs

It highlights that true divine vision is not limited by external conditions (such as bodily form or clothing) and that the Supreme can be realized as nirākāra—beyond material attributes—through a higher mode of perception.

Even amid enjoyment and worldly settings, the verse implies that a being can still behold the Supreme when grace and inner receptivity arise—pointing to bhakti as a direct means to divine darśana beyond outward circumstances.

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is ethical-spiritual: cultivate inner purity and focused awareness, since realization depends more on consciousness than external ritual display.