Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 13

The Greatness of Viṣṇu

Viṣṇor Māhātmya

Devanagari script

स तत्र नृपशार्दूलः सदा सम्मार्जने रतः । दीपदानपरश्चैव विशेषेण हरिप्रियः ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

sa tatra nṛpaśārdūlaḥ sadā sammārjane rataḥ | dīpadānaparaścaiva viśeṣeṇa haripriyaḥ || 13 ||

Translation

هناك كان ذلك «النمرُ بين الملوك» مواظبًا على كنسِ الموضعِ المقدّس وتنظيفه، ومخلصًا في تقديمِ المصابيح؛ وبوجهٍ خاصّ صار محبوبًا لدى هَري (فيشنو).

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• नृपशार्दूलः: tiger among kings
• नृपशार्दूलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप + शार्दूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः उपमान-समासः: नृपेषु शार्दूलः (tiger among kings)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• सम्मार्जने: in cleaning, in sweeping
• सम्मार्जने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्मार्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषण-भावे (in the act of cleaning)

• रतः: engaged, devoted
• रतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (predicative) of ‘सः/नृपशार्दूलः’

• दीपदानपरः: intent on offering lamps
• दीपदानपरः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीपदान + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: दीपदानं परम् यस्य/दीपदाने परः (intent on lamp-giving)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed, certainly
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• विशेषेण: especially, in particular
• विशेषेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषण-भावे (instrumental of manner)

• हरिप्रियः: dear to Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरिप्रियः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हरि + प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: हरेः प्रियः

Speaker

Nārada (teaching in narrative discourse, traditionally to the Sanatkumāra brothers)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Viṣṇu)

FAQs

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

It highlights that humble service (cleaning sacred spaces) and devotional charity (offering lamps) are powerful, accessible practices that make a devotee especially dear to Hari (Viṣṇu).

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

Bhakti is shown as practical seva: consistent, heartfelt actions—like maintaining cleanliness for worship and offering light—express love and reverence, leading to divine favor (Hari-priyatva).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Not a direct Vedāṅga teaching; it emphasizes ritual discipline and purity in worship—cleanliness (śauca) and dīpa-dāna as standard pūjā-upacāras within Purāṇic dharma.