Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 23

Sṛṣṭi-varṇana, Bhārata-khaṇḍa-mahātmya, and Jagad-bhūgola

Creation, Glory of Bhārata, and World Geography

Devanagari script

योऽसौ शुद्धोऽपि परमो ह्यहंकारेण संयुतः । देहीति प्रोच्यते मूढैरहोऽज्ञानविडम्बनम् ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

yo'sau śuddho'pi paramo hyahaṃkāreṇa saṃyutaḥ | dehīti procyate mūḍhairaho'jñānaviḍambanam || 23 ||

Translation

Bagaman ang Kataas-taasang Sarili ay laging dalisay at lampas sa lahat, kapag naiuugnay sa ahaṃkāra (pagkamakasarili), tinatawag Siya ng mga mangmang na “may katawan” (dehī). Aba—anong panlilibak na dulot ng kamangmangan!

Word by Word

• yaḥ: Who
• yaḥ: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (यद्)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• asau: He/That
• asau: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adas (अदस्)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• śuddhaḥ: Pure
• śuddhaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuddha (शुद्ध)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• api: Even/Although
• api: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अपि)
• Form: Conjunction/Particle

• paramaḥ: Supreme
• paramaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (परम)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• hi: Indeed/For
• hi: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (हि)
• Form: Particle (Emphasis/Causal)

• ahaṃkāreṇa: By ego/pride
• ahaṃkāreṇa: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ahaṃkāra (अहंकार)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• saṃyutaḥ: United with/Associated
• saṃyutaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃyuta (संयुत)
• Form: Past Passive Participle, Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• dehī: Embodied soul
• dehī: Karma (Object of speech)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dehin (देहिन्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• iti: Thus
• iti: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (इति)
• Form: Particle (Quotative)

• procyate: Is called/Is said
• procyate: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + vac (प्र + वच्)
• Form: Passive, Present Tense (Lat), 3rd Person, Singular

• mūḍhaiḥ: By the deluded/fools
• mūḍhaiḥ: Karta (Agent of passive verb)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūḍha (मूढ)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• aho: Alas!/Oh!
• aho: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: aho (अहो)
• Form: Interjection

• ajñānaviḍambanam: Mockery of ignorance
• ajñānaviḍambanam: Visheshana (Predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ajñānaviḍambana (अज्ञानविडम्बन)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a jnana-oriented dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Atman
• Ahamkara
• Dehi

FAQs

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

It clarifies that the Self is inherently pure and supreme, but appears as an individual “embodied soul” only due to association with ego; liberation comes from seeing through this ignorance.

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

By exposing ego as the root of mistaken identity, it supports bhakti as ego-surrender—turning from “I am the body” to remembrance of the Supreme, which purifies the sense of self and dissolves delusion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga technique is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is viveka (discernment) used in Vedantic study—separating Atman from body/ego as a foundational discipline for scriptural understanding.