Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 3

The Characteristics of Devotion to Hari

Devanagari script

यथा तुष्यति सर्वेशो देवदेवो जनार्दनः । तन्ममाख्याहि सर्वज्ञ मुने कारुण्यवारिधे ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

yathā tuṣyati sarveśo devadevo janārdanaḥ | tanmamākhyāhi sarvajña mune kāruṇyavāridhe || 3 ||

Translation

Dis-moi, ô sage omniscient, océan de compassion, par quel moyen Janārdana, Seigneur de tout et Dieu des dieux, est comblé de joie.

Word by Word

• यथा: how/in what way
• यथा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (manner adverb)

• तुष्यति: is pleased
• तुष्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तुष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सर्व-ईशः: the Lord of all
• सर्व-ईशः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘सर्वेषाम् ईशः’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• देव-देवः: God of gods
• देव-देवः: Apposition (विशेष्य-विशेषणभाव/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘देवानां देवः’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• जनार्दनः: Janardana (Vishnu)
• जनार्दनः: Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनार्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• मम: to me/of me
• मम: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• आख्याहि: tell/explain
• आख्याहि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-ख्या (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सर्वज्ञ: O omniscient one
• सर्वज्ञ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि (‘सर्वं जानाति’), पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• कारुण्य-वारिधे: O ocean of compassion
• कारुण्य-वारिधे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारुण्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वारिधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘कारुण्यस्य वारिधिः’), पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (questioning a compassionate, all-knowing sage—contextually Sanatkumara)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Janardana
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It frames the chapter’s core inquiry: the seeker (Narada) asks for the precise dharma and bhakti-based means by which Lord Viṣṇu (Janārdana) is truly pleased, establishing devotion as the measure of spiritual success.

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

By focusing on what “pleases” the Supreme Lord, it points to bhakti as relational and practical—seeking the Lord’s satisfaction through surrendered conduct, praise, and prescribed devotional observances taught in the ensuing discourse.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga is stated in this verse; it functions as a dharma–bhakti question that typically leads into instructions on vrata, pūjā-vidhi, and right conduct rather than technical sciences like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa.