Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

एवमेव महाशब्दो भगवानिति सत्तम । परमब्रह्मभूतस्य वासुदेवस्य नान्यगः ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

evameva mahāśabdo bhagavāniti sattama | paramabrahmabhūtasya vāsudevasya nānyagaḥ || 19 ||

Translation

Cũng vậy, hỡi bậc hiền đức tối thượng, đại danh tôn quý “Bhagavān” không thuộc về ai khác, mà chính là Vāsudeva, Đấng mang bản tính của Phạm Thiên Tối Thượng (Paramabrahman).

Word by Word

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Manner adverb (प्रकारवाचक अव्यय)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (अवधारणार्थक अव्यय)

• mahāśabdaḥ: the great term
• mahāśabdaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + śabda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); ‘great word/term’

• bhagavān: Bhagavān (the Lord)
• bhagavān: Apposition (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyārtha-dyotaka (quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति)

• sattama: O best of the virtuous
• sattama: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक) + tama (प्रत्यय)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन); superlative ‘best among the good’

• paramabrahmabhūtasya: of (him) who is the Supreme Brahman
• paramabrahmabhūtasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūta (कृदन्त, √bhū)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa ‘of him who is (bhūta) the Supreme Brahman’

• vāsudevasya: of Vāsudeva
• vāsudevasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsudeva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• na: not
• na: Niṣedha (निषेध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेधार्थक अव्यय)

• anyagaḥ: not applicable to anyone else
• anyagaḥ: Viśeṣya-predicative (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya-ga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa ‘going elsewhere/other-directed’; predicate to mahāśabdaḥ

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vasudeva
• Bhagavan
• Paramabrahman

FAQs

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

It establishes a key Moksha-Dharma point: the title “Bhagavān” (the Supreme Lord) is not a generic honorific here, but a definitive designation of Vāsudeva as the very Supreme Brahman, making devotion to him a direct means to liberation.

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

By declaring that the supreme designation “Bhagavān” belongs to Vāsudeva alone, the verse focuses bhakti on a single highest object—Vishnu/Vāsudeva—supporting exclusive devotion (ananya-bhakti) as spiritually decisive.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects nirukta/vyākaraṇa-style precision about śabda (a sacred term) and its proper referent: the “mahāśabda” Bhagavān is defined as pointing specifically to Vāsudeva, guiding correct theological usage in recitation, teaching, and interpretation.