Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 42

Vāmana’s Advent, Aditi’s Hymn, Bali’s Gift, and the Mahatmya of Bhū-dāna

Devanagari script

अन्तर्य्यामिञ्जगद्रूप सर्वज्ञा परमेश्वर । अज्ञातं किं तव श्रीश किं मामीहयसि प्रभो ॥ ४२ ॥

Transliteration

antaryyāmiñjagadrūpa sarvajñā parameśvara | ajñātaṃ kiṃ tava śrīśa kiṃ māmīhayasi prabho || 42 ||

Translation

হে অন্তর্যামী, জগদ্রূপ, সর্বজ্ঞ পরমেশ্বর! হে শ্রীশ! আপনার কাছে কীই বা অজ্ঞাত থাকতে পারে? হে প্রভু, এখানে আপনি কেন আমাকে পরীক্ষা করছেন?

Word by Word

• अन्तर्यामिन्: O inner controller
• अन्तर्यामिन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर्यामिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• जगत्-रूप: O one whose form is the universe
• जगत्-रूप: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; ‘जगतो रूपम्’

• सर्वज्ञ: O omniscient one
• सर्वज्ञ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• परम-ईश्वर: O supreme lord
• परम-ईश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘परमः ईश्वरः’

• अज्ञातम्: unknown
• अज्ञातम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अज्ञात (कृदन्त; √ज्ञा (धातु) + नञ् + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘किम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• किम्: what?
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक

• तव: to you / of you
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• श्री-ईश: O lord of Lakshmi
• श्री-ईश: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; ‘श्रियाः ईशः’

• किम्: why/what?
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• ईहयसि: you strive/act (towards)
• ईहयसि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ईह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• प्रभो: O lord
• प्रभो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Lakshmi

FAQs

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

It affirms Viṣṇu as the Antaryāmin (indwelling Lord) and Sarvajña (omniscient), expressing the devotee’s humility: since God knows all, any “testing” is for the devotee’s purification and instruction.

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

Bhakti here is shown as intimate surrender—addressing the Lord personally (Śrīśa, Prabho), praising His cosmic immanence (jagadrūpa), and accepting divine dealings as spiritually meaningful rather than arbitrary.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A Vedāntic application of Vedic doctrine is implied: the Antaryāmin teaching (known from Upaniṣadic tradition) is used as a devotional lens, guiding practice toward inner remembrance and ethical self-correction.