Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18

The Recitation of the Thousand Names of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa (Yugala-Sahasranāma) and Śaraṇāgati-Dharma

Devanagari script

स्वेष्टदेवधिया नित्यं तोषयेद्वैष्णवांस्तथा । भर्त्सनादिकमेतेषां न कदाचिद्विचिंतयेत् ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

sveṣṭadevadhiyā nityaṃ toṣayedvaiṣṇavāṃstathā | bhartsanādikameteṣāṃ na kadācidviciṃtayet || 18 ||

Translation

In dem Verständnis, dass die Vaiṣṇavas mit dem erwählten Herrn verbunden sind, soll man sie stets erfreuen; und niemals, zu keiner Zeit, auch nur an Tadel oder Ähnliches ihnen gegenüber denken.

Word by Word

• स्व-इष्ट-देव-धिया: with the thought of one’s chosen deity
• स्व-इष्ट-देव-धिया: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + इष्ट (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; इष्-धातु) + देव (प्रातिपदिक) + धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—तत्पुरुष (स्वस्य इष्टदेवस्य धिया = with the thought of one’s chosen deity)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययप्रयोग)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of frequency)

• तोषयेत्: should please
• तोषयेत्: क्रिया (Injunction)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तुष् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद; विध्यर्थ (should please)

• वैष्णवान्: Vaishnavas (devotees of Vishnu)
• वैष्णवान्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैष्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• तथा: likewise, also
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: in that manner/also)

• भर्त्सन-आदिकम्: rebuking and the like
• भर्त्सन-आदिकम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्त्सन (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—तत्पुरुष (भर्त्सनं च आदिकं च = rebuke and the like)

• एतेषाम्: of these (people)
• एतेषाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negative particle)

• कदाचित्: ever, at any time
• कदाचित्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक (temporal adverb: ever/at any time)

• विचिन्तयेत्: should think/consider
• विचिन्तयेत्: क्रिया (Injunction)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद; निषेधसहित-विधि (should not think/should not entertain)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Vaishnavas

FAQs

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

It teaches that honoring Vaiṣṇavas is a direct expression of devotion to Viṣṇu, and that even mental criticism of devotees is spiritually harmful.

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

Bhakti is shown as practical reverence: seeing devotees through the lens of one’s iṣṭa-devatā and actively pleasing them, while avoiding devotee-offense (aparādha) such as rebuke or contempt.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights sadācāra (right conduct) as a discipline supporting mantra and ritual practice—devotional etiquette and restraint in speech/thought are treated as essential observances alongside technical learning.