Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 174

Vāmana’s Advent, Aditi’s Hymn, Bali’s Gift, and the Mahatmya of Bhū-dāna

Devanagari script

आददे पृथिवीं दातुं वर्णिने वामनाय । विष्णुः सर्वगतोज्ञात्वा जलधारावरोधिनम् ॥ ७४ ॥

Transliteration

ādade pṛthivīṃ dātuṃ varṇine vāmanāya | viṣṇuḥ sarvagatojñātvā jaladhārāvarodhinam || 74 ||

Translation

Wishing to grant the earth to the radiant Vāmana, Bali took up the act of donation; but Viṣṇu, the all-pervading Lord, recognized the one who was obstructing the flow of the libation-water (dhārā).

Word by Word

• आददे: took / accepted
• आददे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (परस्मैपद, perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• पृथिवीम्: the earth
• पृथिवीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• दातुम्: to give
• दातुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (infinitive), अव्ययवत्; प्रयोजनार्थ (to give)

• वर्णिने: to the brahmacārin (mendicant student)
• वर्णिने: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्णिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; (वर्णिन् = ब्रह्मचारि/याचक)

• वामनाय: to Vāmana
• वामनाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वामन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• विष्णुः: Vishnu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सर्वगतः: all-pervading
• सर्वगतः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + गत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (सर्वत्र गतः), क्त-कृदन्ताधारित विशेषण, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (विष्णुः)

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• जलधारावरोधिनम्: the one obstructing the stream of water
• जलधारावरोधिनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जलधारा + अवरोधिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (जलधारायाः अवरोधिन्), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (कं/यम्—अध्याहृतम्)

Speaker

Narada (narrative voice within the Narada Purana discourse tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Vamana
• Prithivi

FAQs

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

It shows that sacred giving (dāna) becomes spiritually potent when it is aligned with Viṣṇu’s will; Viṣṇu, being all-pervading, removes hidden obstacles that try to derail a dharmic vow.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as surrender through action—offering even the earth to Vāmana (Viṣṇu). The verse implies that the Lord supports the devotee’s vow by exposing and countering forces that obstruct the offering.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It references ritual procedure: the jaladhārā (pouring of consecrated water) that seals a donation in yajña/dāna contexts—an applied detail connected with Kalpa (ritual practice) and dharma-śāstra usage.