Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 74

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

Devanagari script

नमोनमः कारणवामनाय नारायणायामितविक्रमाय । सशार्ङ्गचक्रासिगदाधाराय नमोऽस्तु तस्मै पुरुषोत्तमाय ॥ ७४ ॥

Transliteration

namonamaḥ kāraṇavāmanāya nārāyaṇāyāmitavikramāya | saśārṅgacakrāsigadādhārāya namo'stu tasmai puruṣottamāya || 74 ||

Translation

礼拝、礼拝、宇宙の因となるヴァーマナ、無量の歩みをもつナーラーヤナに。シャールンガの弓、円盤、剣、棍棒を携える御方に礼拝あれ。至上の御人格プルショーत्तマに礼拝あれ。

Word by Word

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambodhana/Prayojana (सम्बोधन/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात)

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambodhana/Prayojana (सम्बोधन/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात)

• kāraṇa-vāmanāya: to Vāmana, the primal cause
• kāraṇa-vāmanāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान; addressed as)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + vāmana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी एकवचन; कर्मधारय ‘कारणः वामनः’ (the causal Vāmana)

• nārāyaṇāya: to Nārāyaṇa
• nārāyaṇāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी एकवचन

• amita-vikramāya: to him of immeasurable prowess
• amita-vikramāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान; addressed as)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amita (प्रातिपदिक) + vikrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी एकवचन; कर्मधारय ‘अमितः विक्रमः यस्य’ (as epithet)

• sa-śārṅga-cakra-asi-gadā-dhārāya: to the bearer of Śārṅga, discus, sword, and mace
• sa-śārṅga-cakra-asi-gadā-dhārāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान; addressed as)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sa (सह/अव्यय-पूर्वपद) + śārṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + cakra (प्रातिपदिक) + asi (प्रातिपदिक) + gadā (प्रातिपदिक) + dhāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी एकवचन; तत्पुरुष/बहुपद-समास: ‘सशार्ङ्गः चक्रासिगदाधारः’ = bearer of bow Śārṅga, discus, sword, mace

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambodhana/Prayojana (सम्बोधन/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात)

• astu: may it be
• astu: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु; अस्—सत्तायाम्)
• Form: लोट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• tasmai: to him
• tasmai: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी एकवचन

• puruṣa-uttamāya: to the Supreme Person
• puruṣa-uttamāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान; addressed as)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी एकवचन; कर्मधारय ‘उत्तमः पुरुषः’

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Vamana
• Purushottama
• Sharnga
• Sudarshana Chakra

FAQs

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

It is a direct act of śaraṇāgati (surrender) through praise: the verse identifies Nārāyaṇa as the cosmic cause (kāraṇa) and as Puruṣottama, affirming that the Supreme Lord alone is the refuge and source of liberation.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as nāma-smaraṇa and stuti—remembering the Lord through His titles (Nārāyaṇa, Vāmana, Puruṣottama) and meditating on His divine attributes and weapons, which symbolizes trust in His protection and governance of dharma.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Primarily Vyākaraṇa/etymic clarity in divine epithets: terms like “Puruṣottama” and “Nārāyaṇa” function as precise theological identifiers; the verse also reflects stotra-vidhi (devotional hymn usage) rather than a technical ritual or astrology instruction.