Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 138

Pāpa-bheda, Naraka-yātanā, Mahāpātaka-vicāra, Atonement Limits, Daśa-vidhā Bhakti, and Gaṅgā as Final Remedy

Devanagari script

विष्णौ समार्पितं सर्वं सात्त्विकं सफलं भवेत् । हरिभक्तिः परा नृणां सर्वं पापप्राणाशिनी ॥ १३८ ॥

Transliteration

viṣṇau samārpitaṃ sarvaṃ sāttvikaṃ saphalaṃ bhavet | haribhaktiḥ parā nṛṇāṃ sarvaṃ pāpaprāṇāśinī || 138 ||

Translation

Tout ce qui est offert à Viṣṇu devient sāttvique et porte un fruit véritable. Pour les humains, la dévotion à Hari est la voie suprême, et elle détruit jusqu’au souffle vital de tous les péchés.

Word by Word

• विष्णौ: in/unto Vishnu
• विष्णौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• समार्पितम्: offered/dedicated
• समार्पितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-आ-√अर्प् (धातु) → समार्पित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (to ‘sarvam’)

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• सात्त्विकम्: sattvic, pure
• सात्त्विकम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सात्त्विक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (to ‘sarvam’)

• सफलम्: fruitful, successful
• सफलम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सफल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (to ‘sarvam’)

• भवेत्: would become/is to become
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• हरिभक्तिः: devotion to Hari
• हरिभक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि + भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative: ‘of Hari’), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• परा: supreme
• परा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (to ‘haribhaktiḥ’)

• नृणाम्: of men, of humans
• नृणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन

• सर्वम्: all (i.e., all devotion)
• सर्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पापप्राणाशिनी: destroyer of sins
• पापप्राणाशिनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप + प्राणाशिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (pāpānāṃ prāṇāśinī = destroyer of sins), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (to implied ‘bhaktiḥ’/‘haribhaktiḥ’)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Hari

FAQs

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

It teaches that the inner dedication of all deeds to Viṣṇu purifies them (makes them sāttvika) and ensures their highest spiritual fruit, while Hari-bhakti uproots sin at its source.

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

Bhakti is presented as the supreme refuge for people: by centering life on Hari and offering all actions to Him, devotion becomes both the purifier of conduct and the destroyer of accumulated pāpa.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes the ritual principle of saṅkalpa/arpana (dedicatory offering) rather than a specific Vedāṅga; the practical takeaway is to perform rites and daily duties with Viṣṇu-arpana-bhāva to sanctify results.