Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 61

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

Uttaṅka Itihāsa

Devanagari script

हरिपादोदकस्पर्शाल्लुब्धको गतकल्मषः । दिव्यं विमानमारुह्य मुनिमेतदथाब्रवीत् ॥ ६१ ॥

Transliteration

haripādodakasparśāllubdhako gatakalmaṣaḥ | divyaṃ vimānamāruhya munimetadathābravīt || 61 ||

Translation

Durch die Berührung des Wassers, das Haris Füße gewaschen hatte, wurde der Jäger von aller Sündenschuld gereinigt. Dann bestieg er ein göttliches Luftgefährt und sprach zum Weisen diese Worte.

Word by Word

• हरिपादोदकस्पर्शात्: from the touch of the water of Hari’s feet
• हरिपादोदकस्पर्शात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि + पाद + उदक + स्पर्श (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; समास: हरेः पाद-उदकस्य स्पर्शः (touch of the water of Hari’s feet)

• लुब्धकः: the hunter
• लुब्धकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लुब्धक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• गतकल्मषः: freed from sin
• गतकल्मषः: Karta-visheshana (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गत + कल्मष (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: गतं कल्मषं यस्य सः (whose sin has gone)

• दिव्यम्: divine
• दिव्यम्: Karma-visheshana (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifies विमानम्

• विमानम्: celestial chariot
• विमानम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विमान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आरुह्य: having mounted
• आरुह्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + रुह् (धातु) → आरुह्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund)

• मुनिम्: the sage
• मुनिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• एतत्: this (statement)
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; used as object of speech (quoted content)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Kriya-anubandha (क्रिया-अनुबन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक अव्यय (then/thereupon)

• अब्रवीत्: said/spoke
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

Narrator (Purana narrator describing the event; the hunter is about to speak to the sage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu)
• Hunter (Lubdhaka)
• Muni (Sage)
• Vimana (celestial chariot)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that contact with Hari’s pādodaka (Vishnu’s sacred foot-water/charanāmṛta) has purifying power, removing kalmaṣa (sin/impurity) and elevating even a hunter to a divine state.

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

Bhakti is shown as grace-centered: a simple act connected to Vishnu—touching what is sanctified by Him—can transform a person’s destiny, indicating that devotion and divine association outweigh social status or past faults.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual practice (kalpa-oriented conduct) is implied: honoring tīrtha-like sanctified water and understanding its purificatory role in ācamana/snāna traditions, though no specific Vedanga technicality is directly taught in this single verse.