Shloka 38

Devanagari script

नारायणपरो धर्मो नारायणपरं तपः । नारायणपरं दानं नारायणपरं व्रतम् ॥ ३८ ॥

Transliteration

nārāyaṇaparo dharmo nārāyaṇaparaṃ tapaḥ | nārāyaṇaparaṃ dānaṃ nārāyaṇaparaṃ vratam || 38 ||

Translation

ಧರ್ಮ ನಾರಾಯಣಪರವಾಗಿರಲಿ; ತಪಸ್ಸು ನಾರಾಯಣಪರವಾಗಿರಲಿ. ದಾನ ನಾರಾಯಣನಿಗೇ ಅರ್ಪಿತವಾಗಲಿ, ವ್ರತವೂ ನಾರಾಯಣನಿಗೇ ಆಗಲಿ.

Word by Word

• नारायण-परः: Nārāyaṇa as the highest
• नारायण-परः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक) + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘having Nārāyaṇa as supreme’

• धर्मः: dharma; righteousness
• धर्मः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• नारायण-परम्: Nārāyaṇa as the highest
• नारायण-परम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक) + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• नारायण-परम्: Nārāyaṇa as the highest
• नारायण-परम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक) + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• दानम्: gift; charity
• दानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• नारायण-परम्: Nārāyaṇa as the highest
• नारायण-परम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक) + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• व्रतम्: vow; observance
• व्रतम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It defines the highest orientation of spiritual life: dharma, austerity, charity, and vows reach their fullest power when their purpose is Nārāyaṇa (Vishnu) rather than worldly reward.

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

It teaches bhakti as “Nārāyaṇa-paratā”—making Vishnu the center of every practice. Even traditional karma-based acts (dāna, vrata, tapas) become bhakti when done as offerings to Nārāyaṇa.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse is not a technical Vedanga instruction; its practical takeaway is ritual intentionality: in vrata and dāna, the saṅkalpa (vow-intent) should be directed to Nārāyaṇa for the act to be spiritually complete.