Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 30

Manvantaras and Indras; Sudharmā’s Liberation through Viṣṇu-Pradakṣiṇā; Supremacy of Hari-Bhakti

Devanagari script

अप्रमेयाश्च विबुधाः सुतपाद्याः प्रकीर्तिताः । विष्णुपूजाप्रभावेण तेषामिंद्रो बलिः स्मृतः ॥ ३० ॥

Transliteration

aprameyāśca vibudhāḥ sutapādyāḥ prakīrtitāḥ | viṣṇupūjāprabhāveṇa teṣāmiṃdro baliḥ smṛtaḥ || 30 ||

Translation

Ces dieux, proclamés incommensurables—à commencer par Sutapā—par la puissance du culte rendu à Viṣṇu, sont dits avoir Bali pour Indra (leur seigneur).

Word by Word

• अप्रमेयाः: immeasurable
• अप्रमेयाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-प्रमेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• विबुधाः: gods, wise beings
• विबुधाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विबुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• सुतपाद्याः: those beginning with Sutapā
• सुतपाद्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुतपा + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘सुतपा-आदि’ = सुतपा-प्रभृतयः (beginning with Sutapā)

• प्रकीर्तिताः: are proclaimed/mentioned
• प्रकीर्तिताः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + कीर्त् (धातु) → प्रकीर्तित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे विधेय (predicative)

• विष्णु-पूजा-प्रभावेण: by the power/effect of worship of Vishnu
• विष्णु-पूजा-प्रभावेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु + पूजा + प्रभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘विष्णुपूजायाः प्रभावः’ (effect/power of Vishnu-worship)

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

• इन्द्रः: Indra (their chief)
• इन्द्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• बलिः: Bali
• बलिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; इन्द्रस्य नाम (apposition)

• स्मृतः: is remembered/called
• स्मृतः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) → स्मृत (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (predicative)

Speaker

Narada (narrating within the Purva-bhaga dialogue context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Sutapa
• Bali
• Indra

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that Viṣṇu-bhakti (worship of Vishnu) is a supreme spiritual force capable of elevating beings to extraordinary status—even granting rulership (Indra-ship) by divine merit rather than mere birth or faction.

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

By attributing the exalted outcome directly to “viṣṇu-pūjā-prabhāva,” the verse presents devotion and worship as the decisive cause of spiritual and cosmic elevation, reinforcing that bhakti yields tangible fruits (phala) in the Purāṇic worldview.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual practice is implied: correct pūjā (upacāra, mantra, and procedure) produces specific results (phala). While no single Vedāṅga is named, the verse aligns with Kalpa (ritual discipline) in stressing worship as a structured, result-bearing act.