Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 48

Nārada’s Hymn to Viṣṇu

Nāradasya Viṣṇu-stavaḥ

Devanagari script

यन्नामश्रवणेनापि महापातकिनो नराः । पवित्रतां प्रपद्यन्ते तं कथं स्तौमि चाल्पधीः ॥ ४८ ॥

Transliteration

yannāmaśravaṇenāpi mahāpātakino narāḥ | pavitratāṃ prapadyante taṃ kathaṃ staumi cālpadhīḥ || 48 ||

Translation

Rien qu’en entendant Son Nom, même les hommes chargés des plus grands péchés parviennent à la pureté ; comment moi, d’intelligence limitée, pourrais-je Le louer ?

Word by Word

• yannāmaśravaṇena: by hearing whose name
• yannāmaśravaṇena: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yannāmaśravaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• api: even
• api: N/A
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle

• mahāpātakinaḥ: great sinners
• mahāpātakinaḥ: Visheshana (Adjective to narāḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahāpātakin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• narāḥ: men/humans
• narāḥ: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• pavitratām: purity/sanctity
• pavitratām: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pavitratā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• prapadyante: attain/obtain
• prapadyante: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pad (धातु) + pra
• Form: Present Tense (Lat), Third Person (Prathama), Plural, Atmanepada

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

• katham: how
• katham: N/A
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: Interrogative Adverb

• staumi: I praise
• staumi: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: stu (धातु)
• Form: Present Tense (Lat), First Person (Uttama), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: N/A
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• alpadhīḥ: one of little intellect
• alpadhīḥ: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: alpadhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It declares the extraordinary purifying potency of the Lord’s Name: even mere hearing (nāma-śravaṇa) can cleanse those burdened with mahāpātakas, emphasizing grace over personal qualification.

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

By centering devotion on nāma-śravaṇa, it presents bhakti as accessible and transformative; Narada’s humility (“alpa-dhī”) highlights that the Name works by the Lord’s power, not by the devotee’s eloquence or merit.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga technique is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is a bhakti-sādhana—regular hearing/recitation of the divine Name as a discipline aligned with dharma and inner purification.