Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 2

Hari-nāma Mahimā and Caraṇāmṛta: The Redemption of the Hunter Gulika

Uttaṅka Itihāsa

Devanagari script

नराणां विषयान्धानां ममताकुलचेतसाम् । एकमेव हरेर्नाम सर्वपापप्रणाशनम् ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

narāṇāṃ viṣayāndhānāṃ mamatākulacetasām | ekameva harernāma sarvapāpapraṇāśanam || 2 ||

Translation

विषयों से अंधे और ममता से व्याकुल चित्त वाले मनुष्यों के लिए केवल हरि का एक नाम ही समस्त पापों का नाश करने वाला है।

Word by Word

• नराणाम्: of men
• नराणाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन — 'of men'

• विषय-अन्धानाम्: of the sense-object-blinded
• विषय-अन्धानाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विषय (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (विषयैः अन्धाः → विषय-अन्धाः) — 'of those blinded by sense-objects'

• ममता-आकुल-चेतसाम्: of those with minds disturbed by possessiveness
• ममता-आकुल-चेतसाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ममता (प्रातिपदिक) + आकुल (प्रातिपदिक) + चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (ममतया आकुलं चेतः येषाम्) — 'of those whose minds are agitated by possessiveness'

• एकम्: one (alone)
• एकम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन — 'one/only' (agreeing with नाम)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: अव्यय-सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle of emphasis) — 'indeed/only'

• हरेः: of Hari
• हरेः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन — 'of Hari'

• नाम: name
• नाम: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन — 'name'

• सर्व-पाप-प्रणाशनम्: destroyer of all sins
• सर्व-पाप-प्रणाशनम्: विशेषण (Predicate qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रणाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (सर्वेषां पापानां प्रणाशनम्) — 'destroyer of all sins' (predicate adjective of नाम)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada on the efficacy of Hari-nama)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It declares Hari-nama as the single, most accessible purifier for ordinary people overwhelmed by sense-desires and possessiveness, emphasizing bhakti as a direct means of inner cleansing and upliftment.

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

Bhakti is presented as name-centered practice (nāma-japa/kīrtana): even when the mind is restless and materially entangled, taking refuge in Hari’s Name is portrayed as sufficient to burn accumulated pāpa and reorient the heart toward Vishnu.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is sādhana-methodology—regular, disciplined repetition of the divine Name as a simple daily observance aligned with dharma.