Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 152

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

Devanagari script

तस्माच्छृणुष्व भूपाल संसारविजिगीषुणा । स्वकर्मणो विरोधेन भक्तिः कार्या जनार्दने ॥ १५२ ॥

Transliteration

tasmācchṛṇuṣva bhūpāla saṃsāravijigīṣuṇā | svakarmaṇo virodhena bhaktiḥ kāryā janārdane || 152 ||

Translation

Écoute donc, ô roi : celui qui veut vaincre l’existence mondaine doit pratiquer la bhakti envers Janārdana (Viṣṇu) sans agir à l’encontre de ses devoirs légitimes.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययप्रयोग (ablatival adverbial): पञ्चमी-एकवचनार्थे ‘therefore/from that’

• शृणुष्व: listen
• शृणुष्व: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), आत्मनेपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• भूपाल: O king
• भूपाल: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूपाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (भूः पालः)

• संसार-विजिगीषुणा: by one who wishes to conquer saṃsāra
• संसार-विजिगीषुणा: Karana (करण/agentive instrumental)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संसार (प्रातिपदिक) + विजिगीषु (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः—‘संसारं विजिगीषति’ (desiring to conquer saṃsāra); कर्तृविशेषणम्

• स्व-कर्मणः: of one’s own action/duty
• स्व-कर्मणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘स्वं कर्म’

• विरोधेन: by opposition/contradiction
• विरोधेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विरोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• भक्तिः: devotion
• भक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कार्या: is to be performed
• कार्या: Kriya (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—यत् (gerundive/obligatory), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (to be done)

• जनार्दने: in/with regard to Janārdana (Viṣṇu)
• जनार्दने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनार्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Janardana
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It teaches that liberation-oriented devotion is not escapism: true bhakti to Viṣṇu is to be practiced while honoring one’s svadharma, making duty itself a vehicle for transcending saṃsāra.

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

Bhakti is presented as disciplined and integrated—devotion to Janārdana should be steady and sincere, but never pursued by violating rightful responsibilities; devotion and dharma support each other.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes dharma aligned with prescribed action (svakarma), which in practice depends on correct understanding of ritual duty and conduct (Kalpa and Dharma-śāstra traditions), even though no single Vedāṅga is explicitly named.