Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 25

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

Uttaṅka Itihāsa

Devanagari script

तस्योपवनमध्यस्थं रम्यं केशवमंदिरम् । छदितं हेमकलशैर्दृष्ट्वा व्याधो मुदं ययौ ॥ २५ ॥

Transliteration

tasyopavanamadhyasthaṃ ramyaṃ keśavamaṃdiram | chaditaṃ hemakalaśairdṛṣṭvā vyādho mudaṃ yayau || 25 ||

Translation

Mitten in jenem Hain stand der liebliche Tempel Keśavas, dessen Dach von goldenen Aufsätzen gekrönt war; als der Jäger ihn sah, wurde er von Freude erfüllt.

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him/of that (king)
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (genitive), एकवचन

• उपवन-मध्य-स्थम्: situated in the middle of the garden
• उपवन-मध्य-स्थम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उपवन (प्रातिपदिक) + मध्य (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: उपवनस्य मध्ये स्थितम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of केशवमन्दिरम्

• रम्यम्: beautiful
• रम्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of केशवमन्दिरम्

• केशव-मन्दिरम्: temple of Keśava (Vishnu)
• केशव-मन्दिरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशव (प्रातिपदिक) + मन्दिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: केशवस्य मन्दिरम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• छदितम्: covered
• छदितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: छद् (धातु) + छदित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of मन्दिरम्

• हेम-कलशैः: with golden finials/pots
• हेम-कलशैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेम (प्रातिपदिक) + कलश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास: हेममयाः कलशाः; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययवत्; पूर्वकाल (having seen)

• व्याधः: the hunter
• व्याधः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मुदम्: joy
• मुदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुद्/मुदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ययौ: went/attained
• ययौ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

Narada (narration within the dialogue framework to Sanatkumara brothers)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Keśava
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the purifying power of darśana: even a hunter, upon beholding Keśava’s splendid temple, experiences spontaneous joy—suggesting latent bhakti awakened by contact with Viṣṇu’s sacred presence.

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

Bhakti is shown as beginning with simple contact—seeing the Lord’s shrine in a holy setting. The heart’s gladness on viewing Keśava’s mandira indicates devotion can arise prior to formal practice, through sacred association and reverent sight.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught directly in this verse; the practical takeaway is temple-centered dharma—maintaining and visiting Viṣṇu temples as a meritorious, devotion-supporting practice.