Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 64

The Characteristics of Devotion to Hari

Devanagari script

अहो मौर्ख्यमहो मौर्ख्यमहो मौर्ख्यं दुरात्मनाम् । हृत्पद्मसंस्थितं विष्णुं न विजानन्ति नारद ॥ ६४ ॥

Transliteration

aho maurkhyamaho maurkhyamaho maurkhyaṃ durātmanām | hṛtpadmasaṃsthitaṃ viṣṇuṃ na vijānanti nārada || 64 ||

Translation

Hélas—quelle folie, quelle folie, quelle folie totale chez les âmes au cœur mauvais ! Bien que Viṣṇu demeure dans le lotus du cœur, ils ne Le reconnaissent pas, ô Nārada.

Word by Word

• अहो: alas!/oh!
• अहो: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अहो (अव्यय)
• Form: Exclamation particle (विस्मय/खेदार्थक-अव्यय)

• मौर्ख्यम्: folly
• मौर्ख्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मौर्ख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• अहो: alas!
• अहो: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अहो (अव्यय)
• Form: Exclamation particle (पुनरुक्ति)

• मौर्ख्यम्: folly
• मौर्ख्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मौर्ख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• अहो: alas!
• अहो: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अहो (अव्यय)
• Form: Exclamation particle (पुनरुक्ति)

• मौर्ख्यम्: folly
• मौर्ख्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मौर्ख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• दुरात्मनाम्: of the wicked-souled
• दुरात्मनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुरात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• हृत्-पद्म-संस्थितम्: situated in the lotus of the heart
• हृत्-पद्म-संस्थितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृत् (प्रातिपदिक) + पद्म (प्रातिपदिक) + संस्थित (कृदन्त; सम्-स्था धातु)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषणम्; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (हृदि पद्मे संस्थितः)

• विष्णुम्: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)

• विजानन्ति: recognize/know
• विजानन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन); परस्मैपद

• नारद: O Nārada
• नारद: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (addressing Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Narada

FAQs

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

It teaches that the Supreme Lord Vishnu is present as the indwelling witness in the heart, yet ignorance and impure disposition prevent recognition—so liberation begins with inner awakening.

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

By pointing to Vishnu in the heart-lotus, it frames bhakti as inward remembrance and loving recognition of the Lord’s constant presence, not merely external observance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Vyakarana, Jyotisha, or Kalpa) is taught directly; the practical takeaway is meditative inner focus (heart-lotus contemplation) to support mantra-japa and devotional worship.