Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 23

Dhvajāropaṇa and Dhvajāgopaṇa: Procedure, Stotra, and Phala (Merit) of Raising Viṣṇu’s Flag

Devanagari script

येनेदमखिलं जातं यत्र सर्वं प्रतिष्टितम् । लयमेष्यति यत्रैवं तं प्रपन्नोऽस्मि केशवम् ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

yenedamakhilaṃ jātaṃ yatra sarvaṃ pratiṣṭitam | layameṣyati yatraivaṃ taṃ prapanno'smi keśavam || 23 ||

Translation

Je prends refuge en Keśava : de Lui naît cet univers tout entier; en Lui tout est établi; et en Lui, en vérité, tout finit par se résorber.

Word by Word

• येन: by whom/through whom
• येन: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन; relative pronoun

• इदम्: this (universe)
• इदम्: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• अखिलम्: entire, whole
• अखिलम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण of इदम्

• जातम्: born, arisen
• जातम्: क्रियाविशेषण/विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु) → जात (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicative with इदम्

• यत्र: wherein/where
• यत्र: अधिकरण (Locative/Place)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बन्ध-अव्यय (relative adverb of place)

• सर्वम्: all
• सर्वम्: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रतिष्ठितम्: established, resting
• प्रतिष्ठितम्: क्रियाविशेषण/विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-स्था (धातु) → प्रतिष्ठित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicative with सर्वम्

• लयम्: dissolution
• लयम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• एष्यति: will go/attain
• एष्यति: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इ (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: अधिकरण (Locative/Place)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बन्ध-अव्यय (relative adverb of place)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार-अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• तम्: him
• तम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• प्रपन्नः: having taken refuge
• प्रपन्नः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√पद् (धातु) → प्रपन्न (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; with अस्मि = perfective sense ‘have taken refuge’

• अस्मि: I am
• अस्मि: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

• केशवम्: Keshava (Vishnu)
• केशवम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; proper noun

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Keshava
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It affirms Keśava (Viṣṇu) as the single reality behind sṛṣṭi (creation), sthiti (sustenance), and laya (dissolution), and models śaraṇāgati—taking Him as the ultimate refuge beyond all change.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as surrender: recognizing the Lord as the origin and support of all beings and consciously entrusting oneself to Him (prapannaḥ), which is a direct devotional stance rather than mere intellectual inquiry.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; instead it provides the theological foundation that supports Vedic practice—seeing all rites and duties as ultimately oriented toward Viṣṇu as the final ground and goal.