Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 87

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

Devanagari script

प्रवृद्धैश्वर्यर्दैत्यस्य वर्त्तमाने महाक्रतौ । आमंत्र्य मातापितरौ स बटुर्वामनो ययौ ॥ ८७ ॥

Transliteration

pravṛddhaiśvaryardaityasya varttamāne mahākratau | āmaṃtrya mātāpitarau sa baṭurvāmano yayau || 87 ||

Translation

Alors que se déroulait le grand sacrifice du Daitya, dont la souveraineté enflait sans cesse, Vāmana, le jeune ascète, prit congé de sa mère et de son père et se mit en route.

Word by Word

• प्रवृद्ध-ऐश्वर्य-दैत्यस्य: of the demon (Bali) of grown power
• प्रवृद्ध-ऐश्वर्य-दैत्यस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रवृद्ध (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + ऐश्वर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (दैत्यस्य विशेषण-सम्बन्ध: ‘of the demon of increased sovereignty’), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• वर्तमाने: while (it) was going on
• वर्तमाने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (Present Participle/शतृ), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; agrees with ‘महाक्रतौ’ (locative setting)

• महाक्रतौ: in the great sacrifice
• महाक्रतौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाक्रतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (महान् क्रतुः), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• आमन्त्र्य: having invited
• आमन्त्र्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-मन्त्र् (धातु)
• Form: अव्यय-कृदन्त (Gerund/क्त्वा-प्रत्यय: ल्यप्), ‘having invited/after inviting’

• माता-पितरौ: mother and father
• माता-पितरौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक) + पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (माता च पिता च), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), द्विवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• बटुः: the brahmacārin boy
• बटुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बटु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; apposition to ‘सः’

• वामनः: Vāmana
• वामनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वामन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; apposition to ‘बटुः’

• ययौ: went
• ययौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vamana
• Vishnu
• Bali

FAQs

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

It highlights divine intervention through Vishnu’s Vāmana form: when worldly power (aiśvarya) becomes inflated, the Lord arrives—calmly and lawfully—within the setting of yajña to restore dharma.

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

Vāmana’s purposeful journey signals that true bhakti recognizes God as the ultimate ruler beyond temporary dominion; the devotee learns surrender and reverence for Vishnu’s will even when it overturns prideful power.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse centers on yajña practice (mahākratu) and proper ritual propriety—approaching sacred rites with permission and decorum—reflecting applied dharma and the disciplined conduct expected around Vedic sacrificial settings.