Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 44

Bhakti-Śraddhā-Ācāra-Māhātmya and the Commencement of the Mārkaṇḍeya Narrative

Devanagari script

भगवानेव शेषात्मा शेते वटदले हरिः । असंख्याताब्जजन्माद्यैराभूषिततनूरूहः ॥ ४४ ॥

Transliteration

bhagavāneva śeṣātmā śete vaṭadale hariḥ | asaṃkhyātābjajanmādyairābhūṣitatanūrūhaḥ || 44 ||

Translation

Hari Lui-même—dont la nature intérieure est Śeṣa—repose sur une feuille de banian. Son corps est paré d’innombrables signes merveilleux, tels des naissances de lotus et d’autres marques sacrées.

Word by Word

• bhagavān: The Lord (Possessor of opulence)
• bhagavān: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• eva: Indeed/Only
• eva: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (Emphasis)

• śeṣātmā: He whose soul/self is Shesha (or who is the soul of Shesha)
• śeṣātmā: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śeṣātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• śete: Sleeps/Lies down
• śete: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śīṅ (शीङ् स्वप्ने)
• Form: Present Tense (Lat/लट्), Atmanepada, 3rd Person (Prathama), Singular

• vaṭadale: On a banyan leaf
• vaṭadale: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaṭadala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• hariḥ: Lord Hari
• hariḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• asaṃkhyātābjajanmādyaiḥ: By countless Brahmas (lotus-born) and others
• asaṃkhyātābjajanmādyaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: asaṃkhyātābjajanmādya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• ābhūṣitatanūrūhaḥ: He whose body hair is adorned (by the Brahmas etc.)
• ābhūṣitatanūrūhaḥ: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ābhūṣitatanūrūha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu)
• Bhagavan
• Shesha

FAQs

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

It presents Hari as the self-sufficient Supreme who remains present even at cosmic dissolution—reclining on the vaṭa leaf—signifying transcendence over time and the continuity of divine protection.

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

By giving a concrete meditation-form of Vishnu (Hari as vaṭa-patra-śāyī), it supports bhakti through remembrance (smaraṇa) and contemplation of the Lord’s auspicious attributes and cosmic sovereignty.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga technique is taught in this verse; its practical takeaway is dhyāna-oriented—using Purāṇic iconography as a support for mantra-japa and devotional meditation.