Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 76

Bhakti-Śraddhā-Ācāra-Māhātmya and the Commencement of the Mārkaṇḍeya Narrative

Devanagari script

भवतां रक्षकश्चाहं विहरध्वं यथासुखम् । इति दत्वा वरं तेषामतसीकुसुमप्रभः ॥ ७६ ॥

Transliteration

bhavatāṃ rakṣakaścāhaṃ viharadhvaṃ yathāsukham | iti datvā varaṃ teṣāmatasīkusumaprabhaḥ || 76 ||

Translation

「我もまた汝らの守護者となろう。安らかに、望むままに住み、行き来するがよい。」かくして彼らに恩寵を授け、アタシーの花のごとく輝く御方は、さらに歩みを進めた。

Word by Word

• भवताम्: of you (respected)
• भवताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; आदरार्थे ‘भवत्’

• रक्षकः: protector
• रक्षकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन; उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम

• विहरध्वम्: sport/roam (you all)
• विहरध्वम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विहृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• यथा: as; according to
• यथा: Prakara (प्रकार/Mode)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/उपमानवाचक (as/according to)

• सुखम्: comfortably; happily
• सुखम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbial accusative)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; वाक्यसमाप्ति/उद्धरणसूचक (quotative)

• दत्वा: having given
• दत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दा (धातु) → दत्वा (क्त्वान्त अव्यय)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया

• वरम्: a boon
• वरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तेषाम्: to them; for them
• तेषाम्: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• अतसीकुसुमप्रभः: having the radiance of atasi-flowers
• अतसीकुसुमप्रभः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतसी (प्रातिपदिक) + कुसुम (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपमान-निर्देशकः (having the luster of flax-flowers)

Speaker

Vishnu (Hari), described by the epithet atasī-kusuma-prabhaḥ

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu (Hari)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes Hari’s rakṣakatva—divine guardianship—showing that those who receive His grace are allowed to live without fear, sustained by the Lord’s direct protection.

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

Bhakti culminates in trust (śaraṇāgati): the devotee relies on Vishnu as protector, and the Lord responds by granting assurance and freedom from anxiety—“viharadhvaṃ yathāsukham.”

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 devotional conduct—living with confidence in divine protection after receiving the Lord’s boon.