Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 26

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

Devanagari script

यस्य ब्रह्मादयो देवा महिमानं न वै विदुः । अत्यासन्नं च भक्तानां तं वन्दे भक्तसंगिनम् ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

yasya brahmādayo devā mahimānaṃ na vai viduḥ | atyāsannaṃ ca bhaktānāṃ taṃ vande bhaktasaṃginam || 26 ||

Translation

Je me prosterne devant Celui dont la grandeur n’est pas véritablement connue même de Brahmā et des autres dieux; pourtant Il est infiniment proche de Ses dévots, demeurant toujours en la compagnie des bhakta.

Word by Word

• यस्य: of whom/whose
• यस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (contextual) सर्वनाम

• ब्रह्म-आदयः: Brahmā and others
• ब्रह्म-आदयः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘आदि’ अन्ते—“beginning with Brahmā”

• देवाः: the gods
• देवाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• महिमानम्: greatness, glory
• महिमानम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महिमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: सम्बन्ध (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• वै: indeed
• वै: सम्बन्ध (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• विदुः: know
• विदुः: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• अति-आसन्नम्: very near/most accessible
• अति-आसन्नम्: कर्म (Karma; object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + आसन्न (प्रातिपदिक; √सद्/आस्-आसन्न ‘near’)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘tam’)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• भक्तानाम्: of devotees
• भक्तानाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• तम्: him
• तम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• वन्दे: I bow to / I worship
• वन्दे: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वन्द् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन

• भक्त-संगिनम्: one who associates with devotees
• भक्त-संगिनम्: कर्म (Karma; object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + संगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (of ‘tam’)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Devas
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It highlights the Lord’s transcendence (His mahimā beyond even the devas’ comprehension) alongside His intimacy with devotees—showing that devotion grants nearness where mere status or cosmic power does not.

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

Bhakti is presented as relational: the Supreme is “bhakta-saṁgin” (one who keeps company with devotees), implying that loving surrender and association with devotion bring direct closeness to God.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa) is taught here; the practical takeaway is devotional practice—offering reverence (vandana) and cultivating satsanga with devotees.