Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 157

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

Devanagari script

वाच्यं तु परमं ब्रह्म वाचकः प्रणवः स्मृतः । वाच्यवाचकसंबन्धो ह्युपचारात्तयोर्द्विजा ॥ ५७ ॥

Transliteration

vācyaṃ tu paramaṃ brahma vācakaḥ praṇavaḥ smṛtaḥ | vācyavācakasaṃbandho hyupacārāttayordvijā || 57 ||

Translation

至上梵是所指之义(vācya)，而圣音“唵”(Praṇava)被忆念为能指之声(vācaka)。诸二生者啊，所指与能指之关系，只是依世俗约定而说的假名安立。

Word by Word

• वाच्यम्: denotable (that which is meant)
• वाच्यम्: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्ता-समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाच्य (प्रातिपदिक; from वच् with यत्)
• Form: कृदन्त (gerundive/यत्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate adjective: 'that which is to be denoted'

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्ता-समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण of ब्रह्म

• ब्रह्म: Brahman
• ब्रह्म: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वाचकः: denoter, signifier
• वाचकः: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्ता-समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाचक (प्रातिपदिक; from वच् with ण्वुल्)
• Form: कृदन्त (agent noun), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate noun

• प्रणवः: the praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्रणवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• स्मृतः: is regarded (as)
• स्मृतः: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्ता-समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + क्त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; agrees with प्रणवः; passive sense 'is considered'

• वाच्य: the denoted (meaning)
• वाच्य: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; in compound, stem form

• वाचक: the denoter (word)
• वाचक: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाचक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; in compound, stem form

• सम्बन्धः: relation, connection
• सम्बन्धः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्बन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वाच्यवाचकसम्बन्धः: the relation of denoted and denoter
• वाच्यवाचकसम्बन्धः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वाचक (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्बन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: वाच्यस्य वाचकस्य च सम्बन्धः (relation between meaning and word)

• हि: indeed
• हि: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic particle)

• उपचारात्: due to figurative usage (upacāra)
• उपचारात्: Hetu (हेतु/Ablative of cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/ablative), एकवचन

• तयोः: of the two (of them)
• तयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/genitive), द्विवचन

• द्विजाः: O twice-born (brāhmaṇas)
• द्विजाः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, बहुवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada and other dvijas in the Moksha-oriented discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Praṇava (Oṃ)

FAQs

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

It clarifies that Oṃ (Praṇava) functions as a sacred indicator of the Supreme Brahman, but the link between word and Absolute is ultimately conventional—guiding the seeker from sound (mantra) toward direct realization (brahma-jñāna).

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

By presenting Oṃ as a revered pointer to Brahman, it supports mantra-upāsanā (devotional contemplation through sacred sound), where devotion uses a symbol (Praṇava) to steady the mind on the Supreme.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Vyākaraṇa/Nirukta-style insight into meaning: the vācya–vācaka (signified–signifier) relation is not literal identity but a taught convention, important for correct mantra interpretation and disciplined recitation.