Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 42

Nārada’s Hymn to Viṣṇu

Nāradasya Viṣṇu-stavaḥ

Devanagari script

आविर्भूतश्चतुर्धा यः कपिभिः परिवारितः । हतवान् राक्षसानीकं रामचन्द्रं नतोऽस्म्यहम् ॥ ४२ ॥

Transliteration

āvirbhūtaścaturdhā yaḥ kapibhiḥ parivāritaḥ | hatavān rākṣasānīkaṃ rāmacandraṃ nato'smyaham || 42 ||

Translation

I bow to Rāmacandra—He who manifested in fourfold form, surrounded by the monkey-hosts, and who destroyed the army of the Rākṣasas.

Word by Word

• आविर्भूतः: manifested
• आविर्भूतः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आविर्भू (धातु) → आविर्भूत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Nominative singular; ‘manifested/appeared’

• चतुर्धा: in four forms/ways
• चतुर्धा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चतुर्धा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb); प्रकारवाचक (manner)

• यः: who
• यः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Relative pronoun

• कपिभिः: by/with monkeys (Vānara-s)
• कपिभिः: करण (Instrument/association)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन — Instrumental plural

• परिवारितः: surrounded
• परिवारितः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि + वृ (धातु) → परिवारित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त (PPP); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Nominative singular; ‘surrounded’

• हतवान्: slew; having killed
• हतवान्: क्रिया (Main action/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु) → हतवत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्तवत् (perfect participle, active sense); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — ‘having slain’ (finite-like predicate)

• राक्षस: of demons
• राक्षस: सम्बन्ध (Genitive within compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन (समासपूर्वपद)

• अनीकम्: army/host
• अनीकम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनीक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Accusative singular; समासः: राक्षस-अनीक (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• रामचन्द्रम्: Rāmacandra
• रामचन्द्रम्: कर्म (Object of ‘I bow to’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम + चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Accusative singular; समासः: राम-चन्द्र (कर्मधारय; ‘Rāma who is like the moon’)

• नतः: bowed
• नतः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Predicate adjective of speaker)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नम् (धातु) → नत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त (PPP); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — ‘bowed’

• अस्मि: I am
• अस्मि: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; प्रथमा, एकवचन — Nominative singular

Speaker

Narada (as a devotional eulogy within the Narada Purana’s Vaishnava narration)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Ramacandra
• Vanaras (Kapis)
• Raksasas

FAQs

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

It frames Rāma as a supreme, protective manifestation worthy of surrender (namaskāra), emphasizing divine intervention that removes adharma (symbolized by the Rākṣasa host).

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

Bhakti is expressed as direct reverence—remembering the Lord’s līlā (His appearing, being accompanied by devotees, and defeating evil) and offering humble salutation as a complete act of worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa-ritual procedure) is taught in this verse; its practical takeaway is stotra-prayoga—using concise praise and namaskāra as a devotional practice.