Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 180

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

Devanagari script

तद्दारा बाह्यसलिलं बहुधारं समागतम् । धौतविष्णुपदं तोयं निर्मलं लोकपावनम् ॥ १८० ॥

Transliteration

taddārā bāhyasalilaṃ bahudhāraṃ samāgatam | dhautaviṣṇupadaṃ toyaṃ nirmalaṃ lokapāvanam || 180 ||

Translation

ആ പിളർച്ചയിൽ നിന്ന് പുറത്തെ ജലം പലധാരകളായി ഒഴുകി വന്നു—വിഷ്ണുപാദം കഴുകിയ ആ നിർമല ജലം ലോകങ്ങളെ പാവനമാക്കുന്നതാണ്।

Word by Word

• तत्-द्वारा: through that opening
• तत्-द्वारा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + द्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावः; ‘तत्-द्वारा’ = तेन द्वारेण/तस्मात् द्वारात् (by/through that opening)

• बाह्य-सलिलम्: the outer water
• बाह्य-सलिलम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाह्य (प्रातिपदिक) + सलिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (बाह्यं सलिलम्)

• बहु-धारम्: having many streams
• बहु-धारम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक) + धार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (बह्व्यः धाराः यस्य); विशेषणम्

• समागतम्: came together / flowed forth
• समागतम्: Kriya (क्रिया/वर्णनात्मक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-गम् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘सम्+आ+गम्’ = come together/arrived

• धौत-विष्णु-पदम्: washed by Viṣṇu’s foot
• धौत-विष्णु-पदम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धौत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (विष्णोः पदं धौतं येन/यत्र) — ‘washed by Viṣṇu’s foot’; विशेषणम्

• तोयम्: water
• तोयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• निर्मलम्: pure
• निर्मलम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्मल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• लोक-पावनम्: purifier of the worlds
• लोक-पावनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + पावन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (लोकान् पावयति इति); विशेषणम्

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It presents sacred water as intrinsically purifying because it is linked to Viṣṇu (having ‘washed Viṣṇu’s feet’), making it a loka-pāvana medium for removing impurity and elevating the devotee’s dharmic and devotional state.

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

By emphasizing Viṣṇu’s sanctifying presence in the water, the verse frames purification as grace-centered: reverence for what is connected to Viṣṇu becomes an act of bhakti that purifies mind and conduct.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual practice is implied: the idea of nirmala, sanctified water supports snāna (purificatory bathing) and ācamana (sipping for purity) as standard dharmic procedures, though no specific Vedanga technicality is taught in this verse.