Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 52

Nārada’s Hymn to Viṣṇu

Nāradasya Viṣṇu-stavaḥ

Devanagari script

सर्वसत्त्वमयं शान्तं सर्वद्र ष्टारमीश्वरम् । सहस्रशीर्षकं देवं वन्दे भावात्मकं हरिम् ॥ ५२ ॥

Transliteration

sarvasattvamayaṃ śāntaṃ sarvadra ṣṭāramīśvaram | sahasraśīrṣakaṃ devaṃ vande bhāvātmakaṃ harim || 52 ||

Translation

Je me prosterne devant Hari—le Seigneur divin qui pénètre tous les êtres, paisible, Souverain qui voit tout, le Dieu aux mille têtes, essence de tous les états de l’être et du sentir.

Word by Word

• सर्वसत्त्वमयम्: consisting of all beings
• सर्वसत्त्वमयम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + सत्त्व + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

• शान्तम्: peaceful
• शान्तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

• सर्वद्रष्टारम्: the all-seer
• सर्वद्रष्टारम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + द्रष्टृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); कर्तृवाचक-नाम (agent noun)

• ईश्वरम्: the Lord
• ईश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• सहस्रशीर्षकम्: having a thousand heads
• सहस्रशीर्षकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहस्र + शीर्षक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); बहुव्रीहिः—'यस्य सहस्रं शीर्षाणि'

• देवम्: the god
• देवम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• वन्दे: I salute
• वन्दे: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वन्द् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (Singular)

• भावात्मकम्: whose nature is existence/being
• भावात्मकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भाव + आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

• हरिम्: Hari
• हरिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Suta (narratorial invocation in the Purana’s opening context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Vishnu
• Ishvara

FAQs

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

It functions as a stuti (devotional salutation) establishing Hari as the immanent and transcendent Lord—present in all beings, all-seeing, and the cosmic Purusha—thus setting a bhakti-centered frame for the teaching that follows.

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

Bhakti begins with veneration (vande) grounded in right understanding: the devotee worships Hari not as a limited deity, but as the peaceful, all-pervading Ishvara who contains all beings and all inner bhāvas—turning devotion into a direct means to inner stillness and liberation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga practice is taught in this shloka; however, it reflects Vedic mantra-idiom (e.g., sahasraśīrṣa imagery akin to Purusha-sūkta), supporting correct recitation and meaning-oriented devotion rather than ritual detail.