Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 67

Bhakti-Śraddhā-Ācāra-Māhātmya and the Commencement of the Mārkaṇḍeya Narrative

Devanagari script

तं दृष्य्वा देवसंघास्ते तत्तेजोहततेजसः । नमश्चक्रुर्मुदा युक्ता अष्टांगौरवनिं गताः ॥ ६७ ॥

Transliteration

taṃ dṛṣyvā devasaṃghāste tattejohatatejasaḥ | namaścakrurmudā yuktā aṣṭāṃgauravaniṃ gatāḥ || 67 ||

Translation

Als sie Ihn erblickten, brachten jene Versammlungen der Devas—deren eigener Glanz von Seiner Herrlichkeit überstrahlt wurde—freudig ihre Ehrerbietung dar und warfen sich in achtgliedriger Niederwerfung (aṣṭāṅga) voll Verehrung zu Boden.

Word by Word

• tam: Him
• tam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• dṛṣṭvā: Having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Ktva Pratyaya (Absolutive/Gerund)

• deva-saṃghāḥ: Groups of gods
• deva-saṃghāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva-saṃgha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• te: They
• te: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• tat-tejaḥ-hata-tejasaḥ: Whose brilliance was overpowered by His brilliance
• tat-tejaḥ-hata-tejasaḥ: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tat-tejaḥ-hata-tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• namaḥ: Obeisance
• namaḥ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Noun used as Indeclinable

• cakruḥ: They did / made
• cakruḥ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Lit Lakara (Perfect), Parasmaipada, Prathama Purusha, Plural

• mudā: With joy
• mudā: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mud (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• yuktāḥ: Endowed with / United with
• yuktāḥ: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yukta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past Passive Participle (Kta), Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• aṣṭāṅgaiḥ: With eight limbs (prostration)
• aṣṭāṅgaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṣṭāṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• avanim: To the earth/ground
• avanim: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: avani (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• gatāḥ: Gone / Fell
• gatāḥ: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past Passive Participle (Kta), Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

Narada (narration within the Purana’s dialogue framework)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Devas

FAQs

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

It highlights the transformative power of darśana: even the devas, famed for brilliance, become humble when confronted with superior divine tejas, responding with joyful surrender and reverent prostration.

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

Bhakti is shown as an embodied response—namaskāra and aṣṭāṅga-pranāma—where the devotee acknowledges the Lord’s supremacy, letting egoic “radiance” subside into reverence and glad surrender.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Śikṣā) is taught directly; the practical takeaway is ritual decorum (ācāra) in worship—offering respectful namaskāra and aṣṭāṅga-pranāma upon divine encounter.