Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 15

Janaka’s Quest for Liberation; Pañcaśikha’s Sāṅkhya on Renunciation, Elements, Guṇas, and the Deathless State

Devanagari script

यत्तदेकाक्षरं ब्रह्म नानारूपं प्रदृश्यते । आसुरिर्मंडले तस्मिन्प्रतिपेदे तमव्ययम् ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

yattadekākṣaraṃ brahma nānārūpaṃ pradṛśyate | āsurirmaṃḍale tasminpratipede tamavyayam || 15 ||

Translation

那梵（Brahman）——虽为不坏的“一字一音”——却被见为种种形相。在那同一曼荼罗之境中，圣者阿苏里（Āsuri）证悟了那不变不朽的真实。

Word by Word

• yat: which (that)
• yat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• tat: that
• tat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; निर्देशार्थ सर्वनाम (demonstrative)

• eka-akṣaram: single-syllabled/one imperishable (letter)
• eka-akṣaram: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying)

• brahma: Brahman
• brahma: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• nānā-rūpam: of many forms
• nānā-rūpam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nānā (अव्यय) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• pradṛśyate: is seen/appears
• pradṛśyate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra√dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• āsuriḥ: Āsuri
• āsuriḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āsuri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम

• maṇḍale: in the circle/assembly
• maṇḍale: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• tasmin: in that
• tasmin: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• pratipede: realized/attained
• pratipede: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati√pad (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• tam: that (him/it)
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• avyayam: imperishable
• avyayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-vyaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Om
• Asuri

FAQs

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

It teaches that the One imperishable Brahman—identified with the ekākṣara (Om)—appears as the manifold universe, yet remains unchanged; liberation comes from realizing that imperishable Reality as Āsuri did.

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

By affirming that the many divine forms worshipped in bhakti are appearances of the one imperishable Brahman, it supports devotion as a valid approach that can culminate in realizing the One behind all forms.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights the upāsanā of the ekākṣara (Om) and its correct understanding—linked to Śikṣā (proper recitation/pronunciation) and Vyākaraṇa (precision of sacred syllables) as supports for contemplative practice.