Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 71

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

Devanagari script

सनातनं परं ब्रह्म ज्ञानशब्देन कथ्यते । ज्ञानिनां परमात्मा वै हृदि भाति निरन्तरम् ॥ ७१ ॥

Transliteration

sanātanaṃ paraṃ brahma jñānaśabdena kathyate | jñānināṃ paramātmā vai hṛdi bhāti nirantaram || 71 ||

Translation

ازلی و ابدی پرم برہمن کو ‘گیان’ کے لفظ سے بیان کیا جاتا ہے۔ اہلِ معرفت کے دل میں پرماتما مسلسل روشن رہتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• sanātanam: eternal
• sanātanam: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sanātana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• param: supreme
• param: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• brahma: Brahman (Absolute Reality)
• brahma: Karma (Object - Passive construction)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• jñānaśabdena: by the word 'Knowledge' (Jnana)
• jñānaśabdena: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñānaśabda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• kathyate: is said/described
• kathyate: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kath (धातु)
• Form: Passive Present (Karmani Lat/कर्मणि लट), 3rd Person, Singular

• jñāninām: of the knowers/wise
• jñāninām: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñānin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

• paramātmā: the Supreme Soul
• paramātmā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paramātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• vai: indeed
• vai: N/A
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle

• hṛdi: in the heart
• hṛdi: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hṛd (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• bhāti: shines
• bhāti: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhā (धातु)
• Form: Present Tense (Lat/लट), 3rd Person, Singular

• nirantaram: constantly/without gap
• nirantaram: Kriya-Visheshana (Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nirantara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching to Narada in a jñāna-oriented passage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Paramatma

FAQs

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

It equates true jñāna with realization of the eternal Supreme Brahman, emphasizing that liberation-oriented knowledge is not mere information but direct inner illumination of Paramātmā.

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

By locating the Supreme in the heart as a constant presence, it supports bhakti as inward remembrance (smaraṇa) and steady God-awareness—devotion becomes continuous when the heart is fixed on the indwelling Lord.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; the takeaway is Vedāntic discernment (viveka) and contemplative practice (nididhyāsana) that turns “knowledge” into direct realization.