Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 59

Bhāgīratha’s Bringing of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

वरं वरेण्यं मधुकैटभारिं सुरासुराभ्यर्चितपादपीठम् । सद्भक्तसङ्कल्पितसिद्धिहेतुं ज्ञानैकवेद्यं प्रणताःस्म देवम् ॥ ५९ ॥

Transliteration

varaṃ vareṇyaṃ madhukaiṭabhāriṃ surāsurābhyarcitapādapīṭham | sadbhaktasaṅkalpitasiddhihetuṃ jñānaikavedyaṃ praṇatāḥsma devam || 59 ||

Translation

We bow to that Divine Lord—supremely excellent and most worthy of choice—who slew Madhu and Kaiṭabha; whose footstool is worshipped by gods and asuras alike; who becomes the cause of the fulfilment of the holy resolve of true devotees; and who is knowable only through spiritual knowledge.

Word by Word

• वरम्: the excellent (one)
• वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; adjective used substantively

• वरेण्यम्: most worthy (to be chosen)
• वरेण्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वरेण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; superlative sense ‘most worthy of choice’

• मधु-कैटभ-आरिम्: enemy of Madhu and Kaiṭabha
• मधु-कैटभ-आरिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु (प्रातिपदिक) + कैटभ (प्रातिपदिक) + अरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘मधुकैटभयोः अरिः’

• सुर-असुर-अभ्यर्चित-पाद-पीठम्: whose footstool is worshipped by gods and demons
• सुर-असुर-अभ्यर्चित-पाद-पीठम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक) + असुर (प्रातिपदिक) + अभ्यर्चित (कृदन्त; √अर्च्) + पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + पीठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः—‘सुरासुरैः अभ्यर्चितं पादपीठं यस्य’ (as a descriptive epithet)

• सत्-भक्त-सङ्कल्पित-सिद्धि-हेतुम्: cause of the attainments desired by true devotees
• सत्-भक्त-सङ्कल्पित-सिद्धि-हेतुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + सङ्कल्पित (कृदन्त; √कॢप्/√कल्प्) + सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘सद्भक्तैः सङ्कल्पितायाः सिद्धेः हेतुः’

• ज्ञान-एक-वेद्यम्: knowable only through knowledge
• ज्ञान-एक-वेद्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + एक (प्रातिपदिक) + वेद्य (कृदन्त; √विद्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषभावः—‘ज्ञानमेव एकं येन वेद्यः’

• प्रणताः: bowed down
• प्रणताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रणत (कृदन्त; √नम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) used as predicate of subject ‘we’

• स्म: indeed (particle)
• स्म: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्म (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; particle (निपात) used with finite verb/ellipsis to mark statement (‘indeed/just’)

• देवम्: the God (deity)
• देवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (as a hymn of obeisance within the dialogue with the Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Madhu
• Kaitabha
• Devas
• Asuras

FAQs

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

It presents Vishnu as the universally worshipped Supreme Lord and teaches that surrender (praṇati) and true devotion culminate in fulfilment (siddhi), while His highest nature is grasped through spiritual knowledge (jñāna).

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

Bhakti is shown as effective when it is “sat-bhakta” (genuine devotion) joined with a pure sankalpa; the Lord Himself becomes the cause that turns the devotee’s righteous resolve into accomplishment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga technique is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is doctrinal—Vishnu is ‘jñānaika-vedya’ (known through true knowledge), implying disciplined study and contemplation as the support for devotion.