Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 19

The Greatness of Viṣṇu

Uttaṅka’s Hymn, Hari’s Manifestation, and the Boon of Bhakti

Devanagari script

अनादिनिधनं शान्तं सर्वधातारमच्युतम् । ये प्रपन्ना महात्मानस्तेषां मक्तिर्हि शाश्वती ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

anādinidhanaṃ śāntaṃ sarvadhātāramacyutam | ye prapannā mahātmānasteṣāṃ maktirhi śāśvatī || 19 ||

Translation

Pour ces grandes âmes qui prennent refuge en l’Inengendré et l’Infinissable—paisible, Soutien de l’univers, l’Infaillible Acyuta—la délivrance (mukti) est véritablement éternelle.

Word by Word

• अनादिनिधनम्: beginningless and endless
• अनादिनिधनम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनादि + निधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; द्वन्द्व (आदि+निधन) ‘beginning and end’ with negation ‘अन्-’ → ‘without beginning and end’

• शान्तम्: peaceful
• शान्तम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सर्वधातारम्: the sustainer of all
• सर्वधातारम्: कर्म (Karma/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + धातार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-भावः: ‘सर्वेषां धाता’ (supporter/creator of all)

• अच्युतम्: Acyuta (the infallible)
• अच्युतम्: कर्म (Karma/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अच्युत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विष्णोर्नाम (proper epithet)

• ये: those who
• ये: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक (relative pronoun)

• प्रपन्नाः: surrendered, having taken refuge
• प्रपन्नाः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + पद् (धातु) → प्रपन्न (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (PPP) ‘having surrendered/taken refuge’

• महात्मानः: great-souled ones
• महात्मानः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः: ‘महान् आत्मा यस्य’ (as epithet)

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th case/genitive), बहुवचन

• मुक्तिः: liberation
• मुक्तिः: कर्ता/विषय (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक/निश्चयार्थक-निपात (particle: ‘indeed/for’)

• शाश्वती: eternal
• शाश्वती: विशेषण (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शाश्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘मुक्तिः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Narada (teaching within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Acyuta

FAQs

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

It declares that true and lasting liberation arises from wholehearted refuge (prapatti) in Vishnu—described as beginningless, endless, peaceful, and the sustainer of all—highlighting surrender as the decisive spiritual act.

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

By emphasizing prapanna (one who has surrendered), the verse presents bhakti as reliance on Acyuta rather than self-powered attainment—devotion culminates in sharanagati, which grants eternal mukti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga technique is taught in this verse; its practical takeaway is doctrinal—maintaining steady remembrance and surrender to Vishnu (a bhakti-sadhana) as the means to moksha.