Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 21

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

Creation, Glory of Bhārata, and World Geography

Devanagari script

अक्षरो निर्गुणः शुद्धः परिपूर्णः सनातनः । यः परः कालपुपाख्यो योगिध्येयः परात्परः ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

akṣaro nirguṇaḥ śuddhaḥ paripūrṇaḥ sanātanaḥ | yaḥ paraḥ kālapupākhyo yogidhyeyaḥ parātparaḥ || 21 ||

Translation

祂是不坏者（Akṣara）——无相无德（nirguṇa）、清净、圆满、常住。祂为至上者，亦名“Kālapu”；为瑜伽行者所当禅观；超越一切超越者。

Word by Word

• akṣaraḥ: imperishable
• akṣaraḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akṣara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• nirguṇaḥ: without attributes
• nirguṇaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nirguṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• śuddhaḥ: pure
• śuddhaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• paripūrṇaḥ: complete/full
• paripūrṇaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paripūrṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• sanātanaḥ: eternal/ancient
• sanātanaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sanātana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

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

• kālapupākhyaḥ: known as the form of Time
• kālapupākhyaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāla-rūpa-ākhya (assumed correction for typo)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular. Note: Input 'pupa' likely typo for 'rupa' or 'purusha'.

• yogidhyeyaḥ: to be meditated upon by yogis
• yogidhyeyaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yogi-dhyeya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• parātparaḥ: higher than the highest
• parātparaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parāt-para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (Aluk Samasa or Ablative Tatpurusha)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Paramatman

FAQs

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

It defines the Supreme Reality as Akṣara—beyond change and beyond material qualities—establishing the metaphysical goal of liberation through realizing the eternal, pure, complete Brahman.

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

By identifying the Supreme as the highest object of contemplation, it supports bhakti as focused remembrance and meditation on the transcendent Lord/Brahman, even when described in nirguṇa (beyond attributes) terms.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is yogic dhyāna (meditative discipline) centered on the Akṣara as the highest principle, consistent with Upaniṣadic/Vedāntic instruction.