Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 54

The Narration of the Trayodaśī Vow Observed Throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

तपोमयाय व्याप्ताय शिपिविष्याय वै नमः । व्यालप्रियाय व्यालाय व्यालानां पतये नमः ॥ ५४ ॥

Transliteration

tapomayāya vyāptāya śipiviṣyāya vai namaḥ | vyālapriyāya vyālāya vyālānāṃ pataye namaḥ || 54 ||

Translation

Ehrerbietung dem, der aus Askese besteht, der alles durchdringt und der Śipiviṣṭa ist. Ehrerbietung dem, der den Schlangen lieb ist, der selbst die mächtige Schlange ist und der Herr aller Schlangen.

Word by Word

• tapomayāya: to the Austerity-embodied One
• tapomayāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas + maya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th), Singular; tatpuruṣa: tapas-maya 'consisting of austerity'

• vyāptāya: to the All-pervading One
• vyāptāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vyāpta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √vyāp धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कृदन्त); Masculine, Dative (4th), Singular

• śipiviṣyāya: to Śipiviṣya (epithet)
• śipiviṣyāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śipiviṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th), Singular; Vedic epithet used for Śiva/Viṣṇu in some contexts

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle (निपात)

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya, salutation particle

• vyālapriyāya: to the Serpent-beloved One
• vyālapriyāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyāla + priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th), Singular; tatpuruṣa: vyāla-priya 'dear to serpents/wild beasts'

• vyālāya: to Vyāla (serpent/wild beast)
• vyālāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th), Singular

• vyālānām: of serpents/wild beasts
• vyālānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th), Plural

• pataye: to the lord
• pataye: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th), Singular (pataye)

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya, salutation particle

Speaker

Narada (within a stotra-style recitation in the Narada Purana’s Anukramanika context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu (as Śipiviṣṭa)
• Nāgas/Serpents (Vyāla)
• Ananta-Śeṣa (implied by ‘lord of serpents’)

FAQs

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

It praises Viṣṇu as tapas-svarūpa (the inner power of austerity), as the all-pervading indweller, and as the lord connected with the nāgas—indicating His supremacy over cosmic forces and His immanence in all beings.

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

By offering repeated ‘namaḥ’ to distinct divine attributes (pervasion, ascetic power, lordship over nāgas), the verse models bhakti through nāma-and-guṇa-smaraṇa—remembering and surrendering to the Lord’s qualities.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Primarily Nirukta-style understanding of epithets: recognizing Vedic names like ‘Śipiviṣṭa’ and interpreting them as theological pointers (all-pervading indweller), which supports correct mantra/stotra comprehension in ritual recitation.