Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 3

Devanagari script

अशेषतो जगत्कृत्स्नं हृल्लेखात्मकमुच्यते । तस्याश्चार्थस्तु कथितः सर्वतंत्रेषु गोपितः ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

aśeṣato jagatkṛtsnaṃ hṛllekhātmakamucyate | tasyāścārthastu kathitaḥ sarvataṃtreṣu gopitaḥ || 3 ||

Translation

就其全体而言，此一宇宙被说为“hṛllekhā”之性——意识之内铭。然其真实义趣，虽曾宣示，却在一切密续（Tantra）中深藏不露。

Word by Word

• अशेषतः: entirely/without remainder
• अशेषतः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अशेषतः (अव्यय; अशेष + तस्)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• जगत्-कृत्स्नम्: the entire universe
• जगत्-कृत्स्नम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत्स्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारयः: जगत् एव कृत्स्नम् (the whole universe)

• हृत्-लेख-आत्मकम्: consisting of the heart-mark/inscription
• हृत्-लेख-आत्मकम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृत्/हृद् (प्रातिपदिक) + लेख (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुषः: हृल्लेखः (heart-inscription/mark) तदात्मकम् (consisting of that)

• उच्यते: is said
• उच्यते: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद, कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive)

• तस्याः: of her/of that
• तस्याः: षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय (conjunction)

• अर्थः: meaning
• अर्थः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विरोध/विशेष (adversative/emphatic particle)

• कथितः: has been told
• कथितः: विधेय-विशेषण (Predicative participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past Passive Participle), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• सर्व-तन्त्रेषु: in all tantras
• सर्व-तन्त्रेषु: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + तन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन (Plural); कर्मधारयः: सर्वाणि तन्त्राणि

• गोपितः: kept secret/hidden
• गोपितः: विधेय-विशेषण (Predicative participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गुप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past Passive Participle), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It identifies the cosmos as an inner “script” (hṛllekhā) within consciousness and stresses that its deepest import is traditionally guarded—suggesting that realization requires inner discipline and qualified instruction, not merely reading texts.

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

While the verse is primarily jñāna/tantra-oriented, it supports bhakti indirectly: the universe is understood as pervaded by an inner principle, encouraging reverent contemplation and mantra-based remembrance that matures into devotion and surrender.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to the technical side of mantra-śāstra: meanings are encoded and ‘hidden’ across traditions, implying the need for precise śabda-knowledge (vyākaraṇa/phonetics) and disciplined transmission when working with mantras and Tantric interpretations.