Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 38

Bhāgīratha’s Bringing of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

नमो नारायणायेति जपेत्प्रणवपूर्वकम् । नमो भगवते प्रोच्य वासुदेवाय तत्परम् ॥ ३८ ॥

Transliteration

namo nārāyaṇāyeti japetpraṇavapūrvakam | namo bhagavate procya vāsudevāya tatparam || 38 ||

Translation

One should perform japa of the mantra “Namo Nārāyaṇāya,” preceded by the Praṇava (Oṁ). Having uttered “Namo Bhagavate,” one should then devotedly say “Vāsudevāya.”

Word by Word

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Salutation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya-like usage of namas; interjection/obeisance formula (नमः-प्रयोगः)

• nārāyaṇāya: to Nārāyaṇa
• nārāyaṇāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; quotation marker (इति)

• japet: one should recite
• japet: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jap (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (लोट्/Imperative), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Singular; parasmaipada

• praṇava-pūrvakam: preceded by the praṇava (Oṃ)
• praṇava-pūrvakam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: praṇava (प्रातिपदिक) + pūrvaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva compound used adverbially; Neuter, Accusative singular in avyaya-sense

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Salutation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya-like usage; salutation formula

• bhagavate: to the Blessed Lord
• bhagavate: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• procya: having uttered
• procya: Kriyā (क्रिया/पूर्वक-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra√vac (धातु) + lyap (क्त्वा/ल्यप्)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त); indeclinable verbal form; expresses prior action

• vāsudevāya: to Vāsudeva
• vāsudevāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsudeva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• tat-param: with that as the supreme aim; devoted to that
• tat-param: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial intent)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक) + para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound; Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; adverbial/predicate sense ‘with that as the highest/intent’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Bhagavan
• Vasudeva
• Pranava (Om)

FAQs

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

It prescribes a focused Vishnu-upasana: beginning with Oṁ (Praṇava) and offering salutations to Nārāyaṇa/Bhagavān/Vāsudeva, aligning speech and mind in devotional surrender.

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

Bhakti is shown as reverent remembrance through japa—saluting the Lord by His names and chanting with tatparam (single-pointed dedication), not as mere recitation but as wholehearted orientation to Vishnu.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects mantra-prayoga: using Praṇava as a preface (praṇava-pūrvakam) and maintaining correct utterance and sequence—principles closely tied to Śikṣā (phonetics) and ritual discipline in japa.