Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 15

The Greatness of Viṣṇu

Uttaṅka’s Hymn, Hari’s Manifestation, and the Boon of Bhakti

Devanagari script

योगानामादिभूतं तं नमामि प्रणवस्थितम् । नादात्मकं नादबीजं प्रणवात्मकमव्ययम् ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

yogānāmādibhūtaṃ taṃ namāmi praṇavasthitam | nādātmakaṃ nādabījaṃ praṇavātmakamavyayam || 15 ||

Translation

我顶礼那一位：一切瑜伽之本源，安住为圣音“普罗那瓦”（Oṁ）；祂具那达（玄妙音流）之性，为那达之种子，亦即不坏的普罗那瓦之精髓。

Word by Word

• योगानाम्: of yogas / of yogic disciplines
• योगानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन

• आदि-भूतम्: the primordial source
• आदि-भूतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘योगानाम् आदिः’ (the first/origin of)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नमामि: I bow to
• नमामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, उत्तम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• प्रणव-स्थितम्: abiding in the praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्रणव-स्थितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थित (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय; √स्था)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषार्थः: ‘प्रणवे स्थितः’

• नाद-आत्मकम्: whose essence is sound (nāda)
• नाद-आत्मकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाद (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘नादः आत्मा यस्य’

• नाद-बीजम्: the seed of sound
• नाद-बीजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाद (प्रातिपदिक) + बीज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘नादस्य बीजम्’

• प्रणव-आत्मकम्: whose essence is praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्रणव-आत्मकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘प्रणवः आत्मा यस्य’

• अव्ययम्: imperishable
• अव्ययम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Narada (as a devotional salutation within the teaching context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Pranava (Om)
• Nada

FAQs

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

It presents Praṇava (Oṁ) as the imperishable, primordial foundation of yoga and identifies the Supreme as nāda itself—inner sacred sound—making sound-meditation a direct doorway to liberation.

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

The verse is framed as a namaskāra (salutation): devotion is expressed by reverently taking refuge in Oṁ as the living presence of the Divine, turning meditation on Praṇava into an act of worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It aligns with Śikṣā (the Vedāṅga of phonetics) by treating sound (nāda) and Praṇava as foundational—supporting disciplined chanting, correct intonation, and mantra-based meditation as practical spiritual method.