Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 118

Yuga-Dharma Framework, Kali-Yuga Diagnosis, and the Hari-Nāma Remedy

Transition to Vedānta Inquiry

Devanagari script

एतदेव परं पुण्यमेतदेव परं तपः । यः स्मरेत्पुंडरीकाक्षं सर्वपापविनाशनम् ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

etadeva paraṃ puṇyametadeva paraṃ tapaḥ | yaḥ smaretpuṃḍarīkākṣaṃ sarvapāpavināśanam || 18 ||

Translation

Dies allein ist das höchste Verdienst; dies allein ist die höchste Askese: Puṇḍarīkākṣa (Viṣṇu, der lotusäugige Herr) zu gedenken, der alle Sünden vernichtet.

Word by Word

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karta (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• एव: indeed/alone
• एव: Avyaya (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic particle)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• पुण्यम्: merit/holy good
• पुण्यम्: Karta (कर्ता/वर्ण्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karta (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• एव: indeed/alone
• एव: Avyaya (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphasis)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karta (कर्ता/वर्ण्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• यः: who (he who)
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

• स्मरेत्: should remember
• स्मरेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पुण्डरीकाक्षम्: the lotus-eyed (Lord)
• पुण्डरीकाक्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्डरीक + अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (‘one whose eyes are like lotuses’)

• सर्वपापविनाशनम्: destroyer of all sins
• सर्वपापविनाशनम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + पाप + विनाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘destroyer of all sins’), विशेषण (of puṇḍarīkākṣa)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

Secondary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Pundarikaksha

FAQs

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

It declares that Viṣṇu-smaraṇa (constant remembrance of the lotus-eyed Lord) is itself the highest punya and the highest tapas, because it purifies the heart and removes pāpa at its root.

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

Bhakti is presented as an inner discipline: not merely external austerity, but sustained remembrance of Viṣṇu. Such smaraṇa becomes the central sādhana that leads toward purity, steadiness, and liberation-oriented living.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes sādhana rather than a specific Vedāṅga; practically, it supports disciplined recitation and remembrance (aligned with Śikṣā for correct chanting and Vyākaraṇa for accurate forms of divine names) as a means to cultivate constant smaraṇa.