Shloka 96

Kāruṇya-stotra Phalaśruti; Dream-Darśana of Vāsudeva; Manifestation and Pratiṣṭhā of Jagannātha, Balabhadra (Ananta), and Subhadrā

Devanagari script

परात्परतरं सूक्ष्मं निर्लेपं निर्गुण ध्रुवम् । चिंताशोकविनिर्मुक्तं क्रियाकारणवर्जितम् ॥ ९६ ॥

Transliteration

parātparataraṃ sūkṣmaṃ nirlepaṃ nirguṇa dhruvam | ciṃtāśokavinirmuktaṃ kriyākāraṇavarjitam || 96 ||

Translation

超越至高之上，极其微妙，不染尘垢，无属性而恒常不变——离忧离悲，无所作为，亦无因果造作——此即当知的至上实相。

Word by Word

• parāt: than/from the higher (beyond)
• parāt: Apādāna (अपादान; ablative—than/from)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (अपादान), एकवचन; “from/than the beyond/superior” (comparative base)

• parataram: still higher / beyond
• parataram: Karma (कर्म; object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paratara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; comparative “higher/still beyond”

• sūkṣmam: subtle
• sūkṣmam: Karma (कर्म; object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sūkṣma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• nirlepam: untainted
• nirlepam: Karma (कर्म; object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir-lepa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपसर्ग-तत्पुरुष nir + lepa “without taint/attachment”

• nirguṇam: without (material) qualities
• nirguṇam: Karma (कर्म; object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir-guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपसर्ग-तत्पुरुष nir + guṇa “without qualities”

• dhruvam: fixed / eternal
• dhruvam: Karma (कर्म; object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhruva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ciṃtā-śoka-vinirmuktam: freed from worry and sorrow
• ciṃtā-śoka-vinirmuktam: Karma (कर्म; object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ciṃtā (प्रातिपदिक) + śoka (प्रातिपदिक) + vinirmukta (प्रातिपदिक; vi-nir-√muc मुच् + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; तत्पुरुष (पञ्चमी-तत्पुरुष) “freed from worry and grief”

• kriyā-kāraṇa-varjitam: devoid of action and causation
• kriyā-kāraṇa-varjitam: Karma (कर्म; object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kriyā (प्रातिपदिक) + kāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + varjita (प्रातिपदिक; √vṛj/√varj वर्ज् + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; तत्पुरुष (तृतीया/पञ्चमी-भाव) “devoid of action and cause”

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a Vedantic register; traditional dialogue attribution within Narada Purana teachings)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

FAQs

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

It defines the Supreme as utterly transcendent—subtle, untouched, beyond the guṇas, and free from change—guiding the seeker toward mokṣa through recognition of a reality beyond grief, anxiety, and worldly causation.

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

By portraying the Lord/Absolute as nirlepa (unstained) and nirguṇa (beyond material qualities), it redirects devotion from mere external gains to pure bhakti—love that seeks union with the changeless, sorrowless Reality rather than results of karma.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa ritual procedure) is taught in this verse; its practical takeaway is contemplative discernment (viveka) and detachment from karma-causality (kriyā-kāraṇa) as an aid to spiritual practice.