Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 66

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

Uttaṅka Itihāsa

Devanagari script

इत्युक्त्वा देवकुसुमैर्मुनिश्रेष्टं समाकिरम् । प्रदक्षिणात्रयं कृत्वा नमस्कारं चकार सः ॥ ६६ ॥

Transliteration

ityuktvā devakusumairmuniśreṣṭaṃ samākiram | pradakṣiṇātrayaṃ kṛtvā namaskāraṃ cakāra saḥ || 66 ||

Translation

Nachdem er dies gesagt hatte, überschüttete er den besten der Weisen mit göttlichen Blumen; dann vollzog er drei Umkreisungen (pradakṣiṇā) und brachte eine ehrfürchtige Niederwerfung dar.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Nipata (निपात/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, वाक्यसमाप्त्यर्थक-निपात (quotative particle)

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) → उक्त्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive)

• देवकुसुमैः: with divine flowers
• देवकुसुमैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + कुसुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'देवानां कुसुमानि'

• मुनिश्रेष्टम्: the best of sages
• मुनिश्रेष्टम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'मुनिनां श्रेष्ठः'

• समाकिरत्: he scattered, he covered
• समाकिरत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + किर् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• प्रदक्षिणात्रयम्: three circumambulations
• प्रदक्षिणात्रयम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रदक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास: 'त्रयः प्रदक्षिणाः' (three circumambulations)

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कृत्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive)

• नमस्कारम्: salutation
• नमस्कारम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नमस्कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• चकार: did, performed
• चकार: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Narrator (Suta-style narration within the Purana’s frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Muni (muniśreṣṭha)

FAQs

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

It highlights dharmic reverence: honoring a realized sage through offerings, circumambulation, and prostration—outer acts that cultivate humility and receptivity to sacred instruction.

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

Bhakti is expressed as respectful service (seva) and surrender (namaskara) to a spiritual authority; such devotion purifies the heart and prepares one to receive higher teachings.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual practice (kalpa-oriented conduct) is implied: offering flowers, performing pradakṣiṇā (three rounds), and namaskāra as formalized acts of worship and respectful protocol.