Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 168

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

Devanagari script

स्थितवान्विष्णुभवने सकुटुम्बो युगायुतम् । तथैव ब्रह्मसदने स्थित्वा कोटियुगायुतम् ॥ ६८ ॥

Transliteration

sthitavānviṣṇubhavane sakuṭumbo yugāyutam | tathaiva brahmasadane sthitvā koṭiyugāyutam || 68 ||

Translation

Er verweilte in Viṣṇus Wohnstatt mitsamt seiner Familie zehntausend Yugas; ebenso blieb er, nachdem er in Brahmās Halle weilte, dort zehn Millionen Yugas.

Word by Word

• स्थितवान्: (he) stayed
• स्थितवान्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) + क्तवत्-प्रत्यय (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्तवत्-कृदन्त (past active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि; finite sense: ‘stayed/remained’

• विष्णु-भवने: in Viṣṇu’s abode
• विष्णु-भवने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + भवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• स-कुटुम्बः: together with (his) family
• स-कुटुम्बः: Karta-anubandha (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय-उपसर्ग/सह-अर्थक) + कुटुम्ब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः (सकुटुम्ब = ‘with family’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (कर्तुः)

• युग-आयुतम्: for a yuga-multitude (very long time)
• युग-आयुतम्: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण/Duration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युग (प्रातिपदिक) + आयुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः (युगायुत = ‘ten thousand yugas’/‘a yuga-multitude’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म/कालपरिमाण), एकवचन; कालावधि-निर्देशः

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Prakara (प्रकार/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारार्थ (‘thus/in the same way’)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Avadharana (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (‘indeed/just’)

• ब्रह्म-सदने: in Brahmā’s abode
• ब्रह्म-सदने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + सदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मसदन = ‘abode of Brahmā’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• स्थित्वा: having stayed
• स्थित्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund)

• कोटि-युग-आयुतम्: for a crore of yuga-multitudes
• कोटि-युग-आयुतम्: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण/Duration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटि (प्रातिपदिक) + युग (प्रातिपदिक) + आयुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः (कोटियुगायुत = ‘a crore of yuga-multitudes’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कालावधि-निर्देशः

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that spiritual merit and devotion can grant prolonged residence in higher divine realms—first in Viṣṇu’s abode and also in Brahmā’s realm—illustrating the Purāṇic scale of time and the exalted fruits of dharma and bhakti.

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

By highlighting residence in Viṣṇu’s own abode “with family,” the verse points to Viṣṇu-bhakti as a sustaining, grace-based attainment that uplifts not only the individual but also those connected through righteous life and devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse implicitly uses Purāṇic time-reckoning (yuga गणना), aligning with Jyotiṣa-style calendrical and cosmic measures; it also reflects the narrative use of large-number chronology common in Purāṇic cosmology.