Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 12

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

Devanagari script

यस्यावताररुपाणि ब्रह्माद्या देवतागणाः । समर्चयंति तं विद्याच्छाश्वतस्थानदं हरिम् ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

yasyāvatārarupāṇi brahmādyā devatāgaṇāḥ | samarcayaṃti taṃ vidyācchāśvatasthānadaṃ harim || 12 ||

Translation

اعلم أن هري (فيشنو) هو واهب المقام الأبدي—الذي تُعبَد تجسّداته (أفاتارا) عبادةً لائقة حتى من براهما وجموع الآلهة.

Word by Word

• यस्य: whose
• यस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/षष्ठी), एकवचन (Singular)

• अवताररूपाणि: incarnation-forms
• अवताररूपाणि: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवतार + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया/प्रथमा (Acc./Nom.), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः—अवतारस्य रूपाणि (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• ब्रह्माद्याः: beginning with Brahmā
• ब्रह्माद्याः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्/ब्रह्मा + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nom.), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः—ब्रह्मा आदिः येषाम् (बहुव्रीह्यर्थे प्रयोगः, रूपतः तत्पुरुष-समाससदृशः)

• देवतागणाः: hosts of deities
• देवतागणाः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nom.), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः—देवतानां गणाः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• समर्चयन्ति: worship, honor
• समर्चयन्ति: क्रिया (Verb action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present/लट्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural)

• तम्: him
• तम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Acc.), एकवचन (Singular)

• विद्यात्: should know
• विद्यात्: क्रिया (Verb action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• शाश्वतस्थानदम्: giver of the eternal abode
• शाश्वतस्थानदम्: कर्म (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शाश्वत + स्थान + द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Acc.), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—शाश्वतं स्थानं ददाति इति (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

• हरिम्: Hari
• हरिम्: कर्म (Apposition to object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Acc.), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Vishnu
• Brahma
• Devas

FAQs

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

It establishes Hari (Vishnu) as the supreme refuge and liberator, emphasizing that even Brahmā and the devas worship His avatāras, and that devotion to Him leads to the eternal abode.

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

By presenting the devas’ reverent worship of Vishnu’s incarnations as the model, it implies that sincere, proper worship (samarcana) of Hari’s avatāra-forms is a direct means to attain His eternal realm.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual propriety is implied in the term “samarcayanti” (due/complete worship), pointing to correct worship procedure aligned with Kalpa (ritual practice) and disciplined devotion, though no specific Vedanga is explicitly taught in this verse.