Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 17

Hari-nāma Mahimā and Caraṇāmṛta: The Redemption of the Hunter Gulika

Uttaṅka Itihāsa

Devanagari script

नारायणं परं धाम ज्योतिषां ज्योतिरुत्तमम् । ये प्रपन्ना महात्मानस्तेषां मुक्तिर्हि शाश्वती ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

nārāyaṇaṃ paraṃ dhāma jyotiṣāṃ jyotiruttamam | ye prapannā mahātmānasteṣāṃ muktirhi śāśvatī || 17 ||

Translation

Nārāyaṇa is the supreme abode, the highest Light among all lights. For the great-souled who have surrendered to Him, liberation is indeed eternal.

Word by Word

• नारायणम्: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular (qualifying धाम)

• धाम: abode; splendor
• धाम: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• ज्योतिषाम्: of lights
• ज्योतिषाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्योतिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; Neuter, Genitive (6th), Plural

• ज्योतिः: light
• ज्योतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्योतिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Nominative (1st), Singular

• उत्तमम्: highest
• उत्तमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular (qualifying ज्योतिः)

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Masculine, Nominative (1st), Plural (relative pronoun)

• प्रपन्नाः: surrendered; having taken refuge
• प्रपन्नाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-√पद् (धातु) → प्रपन्न (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; PPP, Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• महात्मानः: great-souled ones
• महात्मानः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: महा + आत्मन् (कर्मधारय); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Plural (apposition to ये)

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Genitive (6th), Plural

• मुक्तिः: liberation
• मुक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; emphatic/causal particle

• शाश्वती: eternal
• शाश्वती: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शाश्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine, Nominative, Singular (qualifying मुक्तिः)

Speaker

Sanatkumāra (teaching to Nārada in dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It identifies Nārāyaṇa as the ultimate spiritual reality—both the supreme refuge (paraṃ dhāma) and the highest illumination—and declares that surrender to Him culminates in eternal liberation.

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

Bhakti is expressed here as prapatti (taking refuge). The verse teaches that wholehearted surrender by mahātmās to Nārāyaṇa is sufficient for attaining lasting moksha, emphasizing dependence on divine grace rather than mere self-effort.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; however, the key doctrinal takeaway supports Dharma-śāstra and devotional practice by defining the goal (śāśvatī mukti) and the means (śaraṇāgati to Nārāyaṇa).