Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 186

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

Devanagari script

विश्वतश्चक्षुषे तुभ्यं विश्वतो बाहवे नमः । विश्वतः शिरसे चैव विश्वतो गतये नमः ॥ ८६ ॥

Transliteration

viśvataścakṣuṣe tubhyaṃ viśvato bāhave namaḥ | viśvataḥ śirase caiva viśvato gataye namaḥ || 86 ||

Translation

Ehrerbietung Dir, dessen Augen überall sind; Ehrerbietung Dir, dessen Arme sich überallhin erstrecken. Ehrerbietung Dir, dessen Haupt überall ist; Ehrerbietung Dir, dessen Gang und Lauf alles durchdringen.

Word by Word

• viśvataḥ: from all sides
• viśvataḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: viśvatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable adverb), sense: ‘from all sides/entirely’

• cakṣuṣe: to the eye
• cakṣuṣe: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cakṣus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• tubhyam: to you
• tubhyam: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• viśvataḥ: from all sides
• viśvataḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: viśvatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable adverb), sense: ‘from all sides/entirely’

• bāhave: to the arm
• bāhave: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Salutation formula)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable interjection/particle), used in salutation; governs Dative (चतुर्थी)

• viśvataḥ: from all sides
• viśvataḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: viśvatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable adverb), sense: ‘from all sides/entirely’

• śirase: to the head
• śirase: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable conjunction)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable particle), emphasis

• viśvataḥ: from all sides
• viśvataḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: viśvatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable adverb), sense: ‘from all sides/entirely’

• gataye: to the movement/going
• gataye: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Salutation formula)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable interjection/particle), used in salutation; governs Dative (चतुर्थी)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It affirms Vishnu’s viśvavyāpti (all-pervasiveness): the Divine is not confined to one form or place, but is present as the seeing, acting, and directing principle throughout the cosmos.

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

By saluting Vishnu in every direction and function (seeing, acting, moving), the devotee trains the mind to remember God everywhere—turning ordinary perception into continuous smaraṇa (remembrance) and worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Primarily mantra-śāstra usage: the verse is a stuti framed in repeated “namaḥ,” illustrating devotional recitation (japa/pāṭha) and the disciplined application of meaningful epithets—more aligned with chandas/mantra-prayoga than technical Jyotiṣa or Vyākaraṇa instruction.