Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 81

Dhvaja-Dhāraṇa Mahātmyam: Sumati–Satyamatī, Humility, and Deliverance by Hari’s Messengers

Devanagari script

इच्छयाराध्य विश्वेशं भक्तिभावेन माधवम् । प्राप्स्यावः परमं श्रेय इति हेतुर्निरुपितः ॥ ८१ ॥

Transliteration

icchayārādhya viśveśaṃ bhaktibhāvena mādhavam | prāpsyāvaḥ paramaṃ śreya iti heturnirupitaḥ || 81 ||

Translation

Wenn wir aus freiem Willen und mit inniger Bhakti Mādhava, den Herrn des Universums, verehren, werden wir das höchste Heil erlangen—so ist die wahre Ursache klar dargelegt.

Word by Word

• इच्छया: by (one's) desire/will
• इच्छया: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इच्छा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• आराध्य: having worshipped
• आराध्य: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ-राध् (धातु) → आराध्य (कृदन्त, ल्यप्/त्वा-प्रत्ययार्थक अव्ययभाव)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having worshipped’ अर्थे

• विश्वेशम्: the Lord of the universe
• विश्वेशम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व-ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); समास: विश्वस्य ईशः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• भक्तिभावेन: with a devotional attitude
• भक्तिभावेन: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति-भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular); समास: भक्तेः भावः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• माधवम्: Mādhava (Vishnu/Krishna)
• माधवम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माधव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्राप्स्यावः: we two will attain
• प्राप्स्यावः: क्रिया (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु) → प्राप्स्य (भविष्यत्) + आवः
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), द्विवचन (Dual); परस्मैपद

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: कर्म (Object-qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective) to श्रेयः

• श्रेयः: the highest good
• श्रेयः: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रेयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); ‘श्रेयस्’ प्रातिपदिकस्य रूपम्

• इति: thus
• इति: सम्बन्ध/वाक्यचिह्न (Discourse marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/इत्यर्थक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• हेतुः: the reason
• हेतुः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• निरुपितः: has been stated/established
• निरुपितः: क्रियाविशेषण/विधेयविशेषण (Predicative qualifier/विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-रूप् (धातु) → निरूपित (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); ‘हेतुः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Madhava
• Vishvesha

FAQs

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

It states that the highest blessedness (parama śreyas) is attained through willing, devotional worship of Vishnu (Mādhava), establishing bhakti as the decisive cause of spiritual fulfillment.

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

Bhakti is presented as an inner disposition (bhakti-bhāva) rather than mere outward act: worship offered freely (icchayā) to the universal Lord is what leads to the supreme goal.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga technique is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is sādhanā-oriented—cultivating intention (icchā) and devotional attitude (bhāva) as the essential ‘method’ of worship.