Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 154

The Exposition of the Krishna Mantra (Kṛṣṇa-mantra-prakāśa): Nyāsa, Dhyāna, Worship, Yantra, and Prayoga

Devanagari script

एवं यो भजते नित्यं विद्वान् गोपालनंदनम् । समुत्तीर्य भवांभोधिं स याति परमं पदम् ॥ १५४ ॥

Transliteration

evaṃ yo bhajate nityaṃ vidvān gopālanaṃdanam | samuttīrya bhavāṃbhodhiṃ sa yāti paramaṃ padam || 154 ||

Translation

Ainsi, le sage qui, chaque jour, adore le Fils bien-aimé de Gopāla traverse l’océan du devenir mondain et atteint la Demeure suprême.

Word by Word

• evam: thus
• evam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, manner-adverb

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; relative pronoun

• bhajate: worships/serves
• bhajate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhaj (भज् धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 3rd person, Singular, Ātmanepada

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative (क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण द्वितीया)

• vidvān: a wise man
• vidvān: Karta (कर्ता; विशेषणार्थे)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidvas (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: Present perfect participle (विद्वस्), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; apposition to yaḥ

• gopāla-nandanam: the son of Nanda the cowherd
• gopāla-nandanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gopāla (प्रातिपदिक) + nandana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; epithet of Kṛṣṇa

• samuttīrya: having crossed over
• samuttīrya: Kriyā (क्रिया; पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ud-tṝ (तॄ धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त) from sam+ud+tṝ ‘to cross over’

• bhava-ambhodhim: the ocean of worldly existence
• bhava-ambhodhim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhava (प्रातिपदिक) + ambhodhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; correlative pronoun

• yāti: goes/attains
• yāti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yā (या धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• paramam: supreme
• paramam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; qualifier of padam

• padam: state/abode
• padam: Karma (कर्म; प्राप्तव्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Krishna
• Gopala

FAQs

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

It states that steady, daily devotion to the Lord (Gopāla’s beloved Son—Śrī Kṛṣṇa/Viṣṇu) is itself a liberating means, enabling one to cross saṃsāra and attain the supreme abode (paramaṃ padam).

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

Bhakti is presented as nitya-bhajana—consistent, continual worship by a vidvān (one who truly understands the Lord’s supremacy). Such unwavering devotion becomes the boat that carries the devotee beyond the ‘ocean’ of worldly becoming.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes practice over technique: regular bhajana. While not naming a specific Vedāṅga, it aligns with disciplined daily recitation/worship that is typically supported by correct pronunciation and liturgical order (Śikṣā and Kalpa in practice).