Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 56

The Narration of the Trayodaśī Vow Observed Throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

मिताय मितनाथाय सिद्धाय परमेष्ठिने । वेदगीताय गुप्ताय वेदगुह्याय वै नमः ॥ ५६ ॥

Transliteration

mitāya mitanāthāya siddhāya parameṣṭhine | vedagītāya guptāya vedaguhyāya vai namaḥ || 56 ||

Translation

Hommage à Celui qui est mesuré (tout en demeurant incommensurable), Seigneur de toute mesure; au Parfait (Siddha), au Souverain suprême (Parameṣṭhin). À Celui que chantent les Veda, le Caché, le plus secret mystère des Veda : à Lui, vraiment, salut.

Word by Word

• मिताय: to the measured/limited one
• मिताय: सम्प्रदान (चतुर्थी/Recipient)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, चतुर्थी-विभक्तिः (सम्प्रदान/दत्ते), एकवचनम्; adjective used as epithet

• मितनाथाय: to the lord of measure/limit
• मितनाथाय: सम्प्रदान (चतुर्थी/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित + नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, चतुर्थी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मितस्य नाथः)

• सिद्धाय: to the perfected one
• सिद्धाय: सम्प्रदान (चतुर्थी/Recipient)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, चतुर्थी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; epithet

• परमेष्ठिने: to the Supreme Lord (Parameṣṭhin)
• परमेष्ठिने: सम्प्रदान (चतुर्थी/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परमेष्ठिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, चतुर्थी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; -इन्-प्रातिपदिक

• वेदगीताय: to the one sung in the Vedas
• वेदगीताय: सम्प्रदान (चतुर्थी/Recipient)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद + गीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, चतुर्थी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वेदेन गीतः/वेदस्य गीतः)

• गुप्ताय: to the hidden/protected one
• गुप्ताय: सम्प्रदान (चतुर्थी/Recipient)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुप्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, चतुर्थी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; epithet

• वेदगुह्याय: to the Vedic secret/mystery
• वेदगुह्याय: सम्प्रदान (चतुर्थी/Recipient)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद + गुह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, चतुर्थी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वेदेषु गुह्यः/वेदस्य गुह्यम्)

• वै: indeed
• वै: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः/अव्ययम्; emphasis/indeed

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: सम्बन्ध/उद्गार (Salutation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः; नमः इति नमस्कारार्थकं अव्ययम् (salutation)

Speaker

Narada (in a hymnic/namaskara sequence within the Purva Bhaga Fourth Pada summary context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vedas
• Parameṣṭhin (Supreme Lord)

FAQs

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

It identifies the Supreme as both knowable through Vedic praise and yet ultimately hidden—pointing to inner realization (guhya) beyond mere recitation, where devotion and insight culminate in moksha.

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

By offering repeated salutations and describing the Lord as “veda-gīta” (praised by the Vedas), the verse frames bhakti as reverent surrender to the One whom scripture indicates but cannot fully exhaust.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes Vedic stuti (praise) and the idea of esoteric meaning (guhya) behind mantra and hymn—supporting the Vedanga approach of correct recitation and interpretation (śikṣā and vyākaraṇa as aids), while affirming that the final purport is inner realization.