Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 24

The Description of the Glory of the Purāṇa

Purāṇa-Māhātmya

Devanagari script

सुप्रसन्नमना नत्वा ययौ नारायणांतिकम् । तत्रापि नारदोऽभीक्ष्णं गतागतपरायणः ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

suprasannamanā natvā yayau nārāyaṇāṃtikam | tatrāpi nārado'bhīkṣṇaṃ gatāgataparāyaṇaḥ || 24 ||

Translation

Mit völlig erfreutem Geist verneigte er sich und begab sich in die Gegenwart Nārāyaṇas. Auch dort widmete sich Nārada immer wieder dem Kommen und Gehen, beständig in seiner hingebungsvollen Anwesenheit.

Word by Word

• सुप्रसन्न-मना: with a very pleased mind
• सुप्रसन्न-मना: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + प्रसन्न (कृदन्त; √सद्/√सन् (धातु) + क्त) + मनस्/मना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिवत् प्रयोगः—‘यस्य मनः सुप्रसन्नम्’ (one whose mind is very pleased)

• नत्वा: having bowed
• नत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (Gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• ययौ: went
• ययौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √या (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नारायण-अन्तिकम्: to the vicinity of Nārāyaṇa
• नारायण-अन्तिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषार्थे (नारायणस्य अन्तिकम् = near Nārāyaṇa)

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

• अपि: also / even
• अपि: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• नारदः: Nārada
• नारदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अभीक्ष्णम्: repeatedly / constantly
• अभीक्ष्णम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अभीक्ष्णम् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of frequency)

• गत-आगत-परायणः: intent on coming and going (moving back and forth)
• गत-आगत-परायणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गत (कृदन्त; √गम् (धातु) + क्त) + आगत (कृदन्त; आ-√गम् + क्त) + परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—‘गतागतयोः परायणः’ (devoted to going and coming)

Speaker

Suta (narrative voice summarizing the episode)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Narada

FAQs

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

It highlights the bhakti-ideal of joyful reverence and continual proximity to Nārāyaṇa—devotion expressed not only in emotion but in repeated, intentional return to the Lord’s presence.

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

Bhakti is shown as steady attendance and service: Nārada bows with a serene mind and repeatedly approaches Nārāyaṇa, suggesting constancy (abhyāsa) and longing for darśana rather than one-time worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is procedural devotion—namaskāra (bowing) and regular darśana/upaśraya (approaching the divine/teacher), which supports disciplined sādhana.