Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 50

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

Devanagari script

यत्प्रभावं न जानन्ति श्रुतयः सर्वदेवताः । तमहं देवदेवेशं धारयामि कथं प्रभो ॥ ५० ॥

Transliteration

yatprabhāvaṃ na jānanti śrutayaḥ sarvadevatāḥ | tamahaṃ devadeveśaṃ dhārayāmi kathaṃ prabho || 50 ||

Translation

«Ô Seigneur, comment pourrais-je porter en moi le Dieu des dieux, le Seigneur des devas, dont la majesté n’est pleinement connue ni des Veda ni de toutes les divinités ?»

Word by Word

• yat-prabhāvam: whose power/majesty
• yat-prabhāvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yat (प्रातिपदिक) + prabhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); relative 'whose power' as object of jānanti

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध निपात)

• jānanti: know
• jānanti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jñā (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• śrutayaḥ: the Vedas / revelations
• śrutayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śruti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• sarva-devatāḥ: all the gods
• sarva-devatāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva + devatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); tatpuruṣa: 'all deities'

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• deva-deva-īśam: Lord of the gods
• deva-deva-īśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva + deva + īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: 'Lord of the gods' (deva-deva = gods)

• dhārayāmi: bear / hold (in the womb)
• dhārayāmi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhṛ (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• katham: how
• katham: Prakāra (प्रकार/ manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: Interrogative adverb (प्रश्नवाचक अव्यय)

• prabho: O lord
• prabho: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (सम्बोधन/8), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Devadevesha (Supreme Lord)
• Shrutis (Vedas)
• Sarva-devata (all deities)

FAQs

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

The verse expresses devotional humility: the Supreme Lord’s greatness transcends even the Vedas and the gods, so the devotee seeks divine grace rather than relying on personal capacity to “contain” or comprehend Him.

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

Bhakti is shown as surrender and awe—recognizing God’s immeasurable glory and approaching Him as “Prabho,” asking for support to hold steady remembrance and devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga technique is taught; the verse instead emphasizes the limitation of scriptural description (śruti) in fully measuring the Supreme, encouraging reverent study joined with devotion.