Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 194

Vāmana’s Advent, Aditi’s Hymn, Bali’s Gift, and the Mahatmya of Bhū-dāna

Devanagari script

एतद्दृष्ट्वा महत्कर्ममुनयो ब्रह्मवादिनः । परस्परं स्मितमुखाः प्रणेभुः पुरुषोत्तमम् ॥ ९४ ॥

Transliteration

etaddṛṣṭvā mahatkarmamunayo brahmavādinaḥ | parasparaṃ smitamukhāḥ praṇebhuḥ puruṣottamam || 94 ||

Translation

この大いなる御業を見て、ブラフマンを説く牟尼たちは互いに微笑み合い、至上の御方プルショーत्तマ（至高の人格）に恭しく礼拝した。

Word by Word

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; निर्देशार्थ सर्वनाम

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) → दृष्ट्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund): ‘having seen’

• महत्: great
• महत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण—‘great’

• कर्म: deed
• कर्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• मुनयः: sages
• मुनयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन

• ब्रह्मवादिनः: expounders of Brahman (Vedic sages)
• ब्रह्मवादिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म (प्रातिपदिक) + वादिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्मणः वादिनः = expounders of Brahman/Veda)

• परस्परम्: mutually
• परस्परम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परस्परम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; परस्परसम्बन्धवाचक (reciprocal adverb: mutually/among themselves)

• स्मितमुखाः: with smiling faces
• स्मितमुखाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्मित (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि (स्मितं मुखं येषां ते = those whose faces are smiling)

• प्रणेभुः: bowed down
• प्रणेभुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + नम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• पुरुषोत्तमम्: the Supreme Person
• पुरुषोत्तमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (उत्तमः पुरुषः = the सर्वोत्तम person)

Speaker

Suta (narrator) describing the sages’ response within the Purana’s discourse

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: hasya

Characters & Entities

• Puruṣottama (Vishnu)

FAQs

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

It shows the hallmark of true wisdom: even Brahma-knowing sages respond to divine greatness with humility, joy, and reverent surrender to Puruṣottama.

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

Bhakti is expressed here as heartfelt recognition of the Lord’s supreme agency—leading naturally to praṇāma (devotional bowing) and shared upliftment among devotees (mutual smiles and agreement).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught directly; the practical takeaway is āchāra (conduct): offering praṇāma as a dhārmic expression of reverence aligned with Vedic discipline and worship etiquette.