Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 52

The Origin of the Gaṅgā and the Gods’ Defeat Caused by Bali

Devanagari script

सैवावशिष्टा जननी सुराणामब्दाच्छतादच्युतसक्तचिता । संरक्षिता विष्णुसुदर्शनेन दैत्यान्तकेन स्वजनानुकम्पिना ॥ ५२ ॥

Transliteration

saivāvaśiṣṭā jananī surāṇāmabdācchatādacyutasaktacitā | saṃrakṣitā viṣṇusudarśanena daityāntakena svajanānukampinā || 52 ||

Translation

She alone—the mother of the gods—remained, her mind devoted to Acyuta; and for a hundred years she was protected by Viṣṇu’s Sudarśana, slayer of the Daityas, out of compassion for His own.

Word by Word

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha/Emphasis (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण (emphasis)

• अवशिष्टा: remained
• अवशिष्टा: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + शिष् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive/active participle in sense “remaining”), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; “remained/was left”

• जननी: the mother
• जननी: Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जननी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सुराणाम्: of the gods
• सुराणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन

• अब्दात्: from a year
• अब्दात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन; कालापादान (from time)

• शतात्: from a hundred
• शतात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन; “from a hundred (years)” (with अब्दात्)

• अच्युत-सक्त-चिता: with mind devoted to Acyuta
• अच्युत-सक्त-चिता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अच्युत (प्रातिपदिक) + सक्त (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + चित्/चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: अच्युते सक्तं चित्तं यस्याः = “whose mind is attached to Acyuta”

• संरक्षिता: was protected
• संरक्षिता: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + रक्ष् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; “protected”

• विष्णु-सुदर्शनेन: by Vishnu’s Sudarshana
• विष्णु-सुदर्शनेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + सुदर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: विष्णोः सुदर्शनम् = “Vishnu’s Sudarshana (discus)”

• दैत्य-अन्तकेन: (as) the slayer of the Daityas
• दैत्य-अन्तकेन: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: दैत्यानाम् अन्तकः = “destroyer of the Daityas” (qualifying सुदर्शनेन)

• स्वजन-अनुकम्पिना: compassionate to his own
• स्वजन-अनुकम्पिना: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वजन (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुकम्पिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: स्वजनेषु अनुकम्पी = “compassionate toward his own people” (qualifying सुदर्शनेन)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Acyuta
• Sudarshana
• Devas
• Daityas

FAQs

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

It highlights that unwavering devotion to Acyuta (Viṣṇu) aligns one with His protective grace—symbolized by Sudarśana—especially amid hostile, adharma-driven forces.

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

Bhakti is shown as single-pointed attachment of the mind (acyuta-sakta-cittā); such steadiness draws the Lord’s compassionate protection, portraying God as personally responsive to devotees.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is theological—Sudarśana represents divine safeguarding, reinforcing dharmic confidence rather than ritual or technical instruction.