Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 10

Hari-nāma Mahimā and Caraṇāmṛta: The Redemption of the Hunter Gulika

Uttaṅka Itihāsa

Devanagari script

कोटिजन्मार्दजितैः पुण्यैर्विष्णुभक्तिः प्रजायते । दृढभक्तिमतां विष्णौ पापबुद्धिः कथं भवेत् ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

koṭijanmārdajitaiḥ puṇyairviṣṇubhaktiḥ prajāyate | dṛḍhabhaktimatāṃ viṣṇau pāpabuddhiḥ kathaṃ bhavet || 10 ||

Translation

Bhakti zu Viṣṇu entsteht aus Verdiensten, die über Krores von Leben angesammelt wurden. Bei denen, deren Hingabe an Viṣṇu fest ist, wie könnte da überhaupt eine sündige Gesinnung aufkommen?

Word by Word

• कोटि-जन्म-अर्ध-जितैः: by merits earned (even) by half of crores of births
• कोटि-जन्म-अर्ध-जितैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोटि (प्रातिपदिक) + जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + जित (प्रातिपदिक; क्त from जि)
• Form: Neuter/Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); तत्पुरुष-समासः (sense: “earned by (only) half (the merit) of crores of births”); used as करण (instrument/cause) with पुण्यैः

• पुण्यैः: by merits
• पुण्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• विष्णु-भक्तिः: devotion to Vishnu
• विष्णु-भक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—विष्णोः भक्तिः (devotion to Vishnu)

• प्रजायते: arises/is born
• प्रजायते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-जा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद; 3rd Person (प्रथम-पुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• दृढ-भक्ति-मताम्: of those with firm devotion
• दृढ-भक्ति-मताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दृढ (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + मत् (प्रातिपदिक; possessive suffix -मत्)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन); कर्मधारयः—दृढा भक्ति यस्य (those possessing firm devotion)

• विष्णौ: in/with regard to Vishnu
• विष्णौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• पाप-बुद्धिः: sinful intent/thought
• पाप-बुद्धिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारयः—पापा बुद्धिः (sinful thought)

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• भवेत्: could be/arise
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद; 3rd Person (प्रथम-पुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada on the rarity and purity of Vishnu-bhakti)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It declares that true Viṣṇu-bhakti is not casual emotion but a rare fruit of immense accumulated puṇya, and that such steadfast devotion naturally purifies the mind from pāpa-buddhi.

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

Bhakti is shown as both the result of long spiritual preparation (puṇya across many births) and the means of inner transformation—firm devotion makes sinful intention incompatible with the devotee’s consciousness.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa) is taught directly; the practical takeaway is ethical-ritual alignment: consistent sādhana and dharmic conduct accumulate puṇya that matures into stable bhakti.