Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 53

Maṅgalācaraṇa, Naimiṣāraṇya-Sabhā, Sūta-Āhvāna, and Narada Purāṇa-Māhātmya

Devanagari script

विमुक्तः पातकैर्मर्त्यो लभते पदमव्ययम् । संसारधोरकान्ताग्दावाग्रिर्मधुसुदनः ॥ ५२ ॥

Transliteration

vimuktaḥ pātakairmartyo labhate padamavyayam | saṃsāradhorakāntāgdāvāgrirmadhusudanaḥ || 52 ||

Translation

Von Sünden befreit erlangt der Sterbliche den unvergänglichen Zustand. Für den lodernden Waldbrand am fernen Ende der schrecklichen Wildnis des Saṃsāra ist Madhusūdana (Viṣṇu) das Feuer, das ihn verzehrt und auslöscht.

Word by Word

• विमुक्तः: freed
• विमुक्तः: विशेषण (Adjectival to मर्त्यः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + मुच् (धातु) → विमुक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘freed’

• पातकैः: from sins
• पातकैः: अपादान/हेतु (Cause/Source; ‘from sins’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पातक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• मर्त्यः: a mortal
• मर्त्यः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मर्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• लभते: attains
• लभते: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• पदम्: state/abode
• पदम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• अव्ययम्: imperishable
• अव्ययम्: विशेषण (Adjectival to पदम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; qualifies पदम्

• संसार-धोरकान्त-आग्दाव-अग्निः: the fire (that burns) the dreadful forest-fire of saṃsāra
• संसार-धोरकान्त-आग्दाव-अग्निः: विशेषण/उपमा-रूपक (Epithet; predicate to मधुसुदनः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संसार (प्रातिपदिक) + घोर (प्रातिपदिक) + कान्त (प्रातिपदिक) + आग्दाव (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (determinative chain): ‘संसारस्य घोरः कान्तः आग्दावः (वनाग्निः) इव अग्निः’ (metaphoric epithet)

• मधुसूदनः: Madhusudana (Vishnu)
• मधुसूदनः: कर्ता/विधेय (Subject/predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु (प्रातिपदिक) + सूदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘मधोः सूदनः’ (slayer of Madhu)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Madhusudana

FAQs

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

It teaches that release from pāpa (sin) is directly tied to reaching the imperishable goal, and it portrays Viṣṇu (Madhusūdana) as the decisive power that burns away the dangers of saṃsāra.

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

By identifying Madhusūdana as the force that destroys the ‘forest’ of worldly bondage, the verse implies that taking refuge in Viṣṇu through bhakti is the practical means to overcome saṃsāra and attain the avyaya-pada.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; the actionable takeaway is ethical purification (pāpa-kṣaya) and Viṣṇu-upāsanā as the soteriological method emphasized by the Purāṇa.