Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18
Nārada’s Hymn to Viṣṇu
Nāradasya Viṣṇu-stavaḥ
येनेदमखिलं जातं जगत्स्थावरजङ्गमम् । गङ्गापादोदकं यस्य स कथं ज्ञायते हरिः ॥ १८ ॥
yenedamakhilaṃ jātaṃ jagatsthāvarajaṅgamam | gaṅgāpādodakaṃ yasya sa kathaṃ jñāyate hariḥ || 18 ||
Durch Ihn ist dieses ganze Universum entstanden — das Unbewegliche wie das Bewegliche —, und das Wasser der Gaṅgā ist das Wasser, das Seine Füße wäscht. Wie könnte jener Hari je durch gewöhnliche Mittel völlig erkannt werden?
Narada
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
The verse exalts Hari as the source of all creation (sthāvara and jaṅgama) and identifies Gaṅgā as His pāda-udaka, implying that the Supreme cannot be grasped completely by mere intellect; reverence, devotion, and sacred association (tīrtha) are emphasized.
By portraying Hari as immeasurable and yet approachable through sacred signs like Gaṅgā (His foot-water), it points to bhakti as the practical means—humble worship, remembrance, and honoring His sacred manifestations—rather than relying only on speculative knowing.
Direct Vedāṅga technique is not taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is tīrtha-dharma aligned with śāstric tradition—treating Gaṅgā as pāda-udaka and approaching the Divine through sanctioned sacred practice rather than purely analytical inquiry.