Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 24

Vāmana’s Advent, Aditi’s Hymn, Bali’s Gift, and the Mahatmya of Bhū-dāna

Devanagari script

यस्यावलोकनं चित्रं मायोपद्रवकारणम् । जगद्रूपं जगद्धेतुं तं वन्दें सर्ववन्दितम् ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

yasyāvalokanaṃ citraṃ māyopadravakāraṇam | jagadrūpaṃ jagaddhetuṃ taṃ vandeṃ sarvavanditam || 24 ||

Translation

Me inclino ante Aquel a quien todos veneran: cuya mirada maravillosa es causa del estremecimiento de māyā; que es la forma misma del universo y también la causa del universo.

Word by Word

• yasya: whose
• yasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी, एकवचन — ‘whose’

• avalokanam: glance/looking
• avalokanam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ava + lokana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; भाववाचक (action-noun): ‘looking/seeing’

• citram: wonderful/strange
• citram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: citra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• māyā-upadrava-kāraṇam: cause of māyā’s disturbance
• māyā-upadrava-kāraṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māyā + upadrava + kāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: मायायाः उपद्रवस्य कारणम् (cause of the disturbance of māyā / caused by māyā)

• jagat-rūpam: the one whose form is the universe
• jagat-rūpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: जगतः रूपम् (having the form of the universe)

• jagat-hetum: the cause of the universe
• jagat-hetum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat + hetu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: जगतः हेतुः

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• vande: I salute
• vande: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vand (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद; उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; धातु: वन्द् (to praise/salute)

• sarva-vanditam: praised by all
• sarva-vanditam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva + vandita (वन्द्-धातुज कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त): वन्दित (praised); तत्पुरुष: सर्वैः वन्दितम् (praised by all)

Speaker

Narada (praise/obeisance verse within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Maya
• Jagat (Universe)

FAQs

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

It identifies the Supreme Lord (Vishnu) as both immanent (the universe as His form) and transcendent (the cause behind the universe), teaching that devotion is directed to the ultimate source beyond Māyā while recognizing His presence in all.

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

By portraying the Lord as “sarvavandita” (worshipped by all) and worthy of surrender, it frames Bhakti as reverent bowing and contemplation of the Lord’s cosmic sovereignty—His glance initiating Māyā and creation—leading the devotee toward steadiness and liberation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga technique is taught in this verse; the key takeaway is doctrinal clarity used in Purāṇic instruction—discerning the Lord as the cause (kāraṇa) and the world as His manifestation (jagad-rūpa), which supports correct contemplation in mantra-japa and worship.