Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 51

Bhāgīratha’s Bringing of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

ध्यायन्नारायणं देवमनन्तमपराजितम् । षष्टिवर्षसहस्राणि निरुच्छ्वासपरोऽभवत् ॥ ५१ ॥

Transliteration

dhyāyannārāyaṇaṃ devamanantamaparājitam | ṣaṣṭivarṣasahasrāṇi nirucchvāsaparo'bhavat || 51 ||

Translation

In Meditation auf Nārāyaṇa—den göttlichen Herrn, unendlich und unbesiegbar—verharrte er völlig versunken, ohne Atemzug, sechzigtausend Jahre lang.

Word by Word

• ध्यायन्: meditating
• ध्यायन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (present active participle, nom. sg.)

• नारायणम्: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (masc. acc. sg.)

• देवम्: the god
• देवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; नारायणस्य विशेषणम् (masc. acc. sg.)

• अनन्तम्: endless/infinite
• अनन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (masc. acc. sg.)

• अपराजितम्: unconquered
• अपराजितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-पराजित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (masc. acc. sg.)

• षष्टिवर्षसहस्राणि: sixty thousand years
• षष्टिवर्षसहस्राणि: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षष्टि-वर्ष-सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—“षष्ट्या वर्षाणां सहस्राणि” (neut. acc. pl.; duration)

• निरुच्छ्वासपरः: intent on breath-retention/breathless
• निरुच्छ्वासपरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निरुच्छ्वास-पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—“निरुच्छ्वासे परः/निष्ठः” (masc. nom. sg.)

• अभवत्: was/became
• अभवत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (imperfect, 3rd sg.)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It presents single-pointed meditation on Nārāyaṇa as a supreme austerity—so complete that the practitioner becomes entirely absorbed (paraḥ), indicating the ideal of unwavering God-centered consciousness.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as continuous remembrance and contemplation of Nārāyaṇa—seeing Him as Ananta (infinite) and Aparājita (unconquered)—where devotion matures into uninterrupted dhyāna.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is yogic discipline in dhyāna—steadiness of mind and restraint of the life-breath as an aspect of tapas.