Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 15

Nārada’s Hymn to Viṣṇu

Nāradasya Viṣṇu-stavaḥ

Devanagari script

कृतक्रियेषु मुनिषु गङ्गातीरे मनोरमे । चकार नारदः प्रश्नं नानाख्यानकथान्तरे ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

kṛtakriyeṣu muniṣu gaṅgātīre manorame | cakāra nāradaḥ praśnaṃ nānākhyānakathāntare || 15 ||

Translation

जब मनोहर गङ्गा-तट पर मुनियों ने अपने कर्मकाण्ड पूर्ण कर लिए, तब नानाविध आख्यान-कथाओं के बीच नारद ने एक प्रश्न किया।

Word by Word

• kṛtakriyeṣu: When rites were completed
• kṛtakriyeṣu: Sati Saptami (Locative Absolute)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛtakriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural

• muniṣu: By the sages
• muniṣu: Sati Saptami (Locative Absolute)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural

• gaṅgātīre: On the bank of the Ganga
• gaṅgātīre: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṅgātīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• manorame: Beautiful/Pleasing to the mind
• manorame: Visheshana (Qualifier to gaṅgātīre)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: manorama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• cakāra: Made/Did
• cakāra: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Lit Lakara (Perfect), Parasmaipada, Prathama Purusha, Singular

• nāradaḥ: Narada
• nāradaḥ: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• praśnam: Question
• praśnam: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: praśna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• nānākhyānakathāntare: In the interval of various tales and stories
• nānākhyānakathāntare: Adhikarana (Time/Context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nānākhyānakathāntara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

Speaker

Suta (narrator)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Ganga
• Munis

FAQs

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

It establishes the sacred context—completed rites at a tīrtha (Gaṅgā)—as the proper setting for inquiry, showing that Purāṇic wisdom is transmitted through respectful questions in holy assembly.

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

Indirectly, it models bhakti-culture: after ritual purity and satsanga at a sacred place, Nārada initiates the teaching through a sincere question—an essential step for receiving devotion-centered instruction that follows.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse points to kriyā (ritual procedure) being completed—reflecting Kalpa (ritual discipline) in practice—before entering doctrinal discussion, a common Purāṇic and Vedic pedagogical order.