Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 37

Nārada’s Hymn to Viṣṇu

Nāradasya Viṣṇu-stavaḥ

Devanagari script

दधार मंदरं पृष्ठे निरोदेऽमृतमन्थने । देवतानां हितार्थाय तं कूर्मं शरणं गतः ॥ ३७ ॥

Transliteration

dadhāra maṃdaraṃ pṛṣṭhe nirode'mṛtamanthane | devatānāṃ hitārthāya taṃ kūrmaṃ śaraṇaṃ gataḥ || 37 ||

Translation

Lors du barattage de l’océan pour l’amṛta, Il porta le mont Mandara sur Son dos. Pour le bien des dieux, je prends refuge en cette incarnation Tortue, Kūrma.

Word by Word

• dadhāra: held / bore
• dadhāra: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhṛ (धातु)
• Form: Perfect Tense (Lit/लिट्), 3rd Person (Prathama), Singular

• mandaram: Mandara mountain
• mandaram: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mandara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• pṛṣṭhe: on the back
• pṛṣṭhe: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pṛṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• nirode: in the ocean
• nirode: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nīroda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular. (Note: Text has nirode, likely for nīrode - ocean).

• amṛtamanthane: during the churning for nectar
• amṛtamanthane: Adhikaraṇa (Time/Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amṛtamanthana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular. (Saptami Tatpurusha: churning for nectar).

• devatānām: of the gods
• devatānām: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

• hitārthāya: for the sake of welfare
• hitārthāya: Sampradana (Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hitārtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular. (Chaturthi Tatpurusha: for the purpose of welfare).

• tam: to Him
• tam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• kūrmam: the Tortoise (Avatar)
• kūrmam: Karma (Object/कर्म) / Samanadhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: kūrma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• śaraṇam: refuge
• śaraṇam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• gataḥ: gone / approached
• gataḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gam (धातु) -> gata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past Passive Participle, Masculine, Nominative, Singular. (Implied 'asmi' - I have gone).

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Kurma
• Mandara
• Devatas
• Kshira Sagara

FAQs

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

It presents Viṣṇu’s Kurma-avatāra as the divine support behind cosmic effort: when the devas strive for amṛta, stability and success come through taking refuge in the Lord who sustains the burden of the world.

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

The key bhakti principle is śaraṇāgati—seeking refuge in Viṣṇu (here as Kūrma). The verse implies that even great undertakings (like amṛta-manthana) become fruitful when centered on surrender to the Lord’s protection.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is directly taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is dhārmic orientation—undertaking actions for loka-hita (the welfare of the devas/world) with reliance on divine support.