Shloka 24

Glory of Puruṣottama: Pañcatīrthī Observance and Narasiṃha Worship

Devanagari script

ॐ नमोऽव्यक्तरूपाय महते नतपालिने । महोदकोपविष्टाय न्यग्रोधाय नमोऽस्तु ते ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

oṃ namo'vyaktarūpāya mahate natapāline | mahodakopaviṣṭāya nyagrodhāya namo'stu te || 24 ||

Translation

Om—salutations to You whose form is unmanifest, the Great One, protector of those who bow. Salutations to You who sit upon the vast waters, O Nyagrodha, the cosmic banyan; may my homage be to You.

Word by Word

• ॐ: Om
• ॐ: Sambodhana/Invocation (सम्बोधन/आह्वान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ॐ (अव्यय)
• Form: मङ्गलाचरण-प्रणवः; अव्यय (indeclinable sacred syllable)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Karma/Offering (कर्म/अर्पण-वस्तु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Nom./Acc. sg.; indeclinable-like usage in salutation)

• अव्यक्त-रूपाय: to (him) of unmanifest form
• अव्यक्त-रूपाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान; recipient of salutation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अव्यक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी एकवचन (Dative sg.); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः/कर्मधारय-समासार्थः: ‘अव्यक्तं रूपं यस्य/अव्यक्तं रूपम्’

• महते: to the great one
• महते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी एकवचन (Dative sg.)

• नत-पालिने: to the protector of the bowed/devotees
• नत-पालिने: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नत (प्रातिपदिक) + पालिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी एकवचन (Dative sg.); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘नतानां पालिन्’

• महा-उदक-उपविष्टाय: to (him) seated upon the great waters
• महा-उदक-उपविष्टाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + उदक (प्रातिपदिक) + उपविष्ट (उप√विश् धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी एकवचन (Dative sg.); समासः (तत्पुरुष): ‘महोदके उपविष्टः’

• न्यग्रोधाय: to the Nyagrodha (banyan)
• न्यग्रोधाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: न्यग्रोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी एकवचन (Dative sg.)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Karma/Offering (कर्म/अर्पण-वस्तु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Nom./Acc. sg.; salutation formula)

• अस्तु: may it be
• अस्तु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/benedictive sense), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ते: to you/for you
• ते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान; to you)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी एकवचन (Gen./Dat. sg.)

Speaker

Narada (as a stotra/prayer within the Uttara-Bhaga narrative)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Nyagrodha (cosmic banyan)

FAQs

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

It venerates Vishnu as both transcendent (unmanifest, Avyakta) and immanent (abiding on the cosmic waters), teaching that surrender to the Supreme protects the devotee and anchors the mind in the source of creation.

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

Bhakti is shown as humble prostration and praise—recognizing the Lord’s greatness (mahate) and seeking refuge in Him as the protector of the bowed (natapālin), a classic Narada Purana emphasis on surrender and remembrance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Primarily mantra-prayoga (practical use of sacred utterance): the verse models stotra-style invocation beginning with “Oṃ namaḥ…,” reflecting correct liturgical framing used in Purāṇic and Vedic devotional recitation.