Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 11

The Greatness of Viṣṇu

Viṣṇor Māhātmya

Devanagari script

विष्णोर्देवालये नित्यं सम्मार्जनपरायणः । दीपदानरतश्चैव सर्वभूतदयापरः ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

viṣṇordevālaye nityaṃ sammārjanaparāyaṇaḥ | dīpadānarataścaiva sarvabhūtadayāparaḥ || 11 ||

Translation

Toujours voué au nettoyage du temple de Viṣṇu, se réjouissant de l’offrande des lampes et animé de compassion envers tous les êtres—tel est celui qui demeure établi dans la dévotion droite.

Word by Word

• viṣṇoḥ: of Viṣṇu
• viṣṇoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (genitive), एकवचनम्

• deva-ālaye: in the temple
• deva-ālaye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + ālaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (temple: 'abode of the deity'), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (locative), एकवचनम्

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb: always)

• sammārjana-parāyaṇaḥ: devoted to sweeping/cleaning
• sammārjana-parāyaṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-mārjana (प्रातिपदिक) + parāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (one devoted to cleaning), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• dīpa-dāna-rataḥ: engaged in offering lamps
• dīpa-dāna-rataḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dīpa (प्रातिपदिक) + dāna (प्रातिपदिक) + rata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (one engaged in lamp-offering), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphasis)

• sarva-bhūta-dayā-paraḥ: intent on compassion to all beings
• sarva-bhūta-dayā-paraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūta (प्रातिपदिक) + dayā (प्रातिपदिक) + para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (one intent on compassion toward all beings), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

Secondary Rasa: karuna (compassion)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It elevates simple acts of temple-sevā—cleaning Viṣṇu’s shrine and offering lamps—when joined with universal compassion, as core expressions of dharmic bhakti.

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

Bhakti is shown as lived devotion: daily service to Viṣṇu (sammārjana), devotional giving (dīpa-dāna), and a compassionate heart toward all beings—outer worship matched by inner virtue.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual practice (kalpa-oriented temple procedure) is implied: maintaining sacred space (śauca/cleanliness) and the prescribed act of dīpa-dāna as a daily devotional observance.