Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

नमस्ते बहुपरुपायारुपाय च महात्मने । सर्वैकरुपरुपाय निर्गुणाय गुणात्मने ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

namaste bahuparupāyārupāya ca mahātmane | sarvaikaruparupāya nirguṇāya guṇātmane || 20 ||

Translation

ഹേ മഹാത്മാവേ! അനേകം പരമരൂപങ്ങളുള്ളവനും അരൂപനും; സർവ്വരൂപങ്ങളിലും ഏകറൂപമായി പ്രകാശിക്കുന്നവനും; നിർഗുണനായി നിലകൊണ്ടിട്ടും ഗുണങ്ങളുടെ ആത്മാവായ നിനക്കു നമസ്കാരം.

Word by Word

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambodhana/Prayojana (सम्बोधन/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya-like interjection; salutation (नमः-प्रयोग)

• te: to you
• te: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Dative (चतुर्थी/4), Singular

• bahu-parūpa: to (you) of many forms
• bahu-parūpa: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक) + parūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (चतुर्थी/4), Singular; qualifying the addressed deity

• arūpa: to the formless (one)
• arūpa: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: arūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (चतुर्थी/4), Singular; ‘formless’

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle (समुच्चय)

• mahātmane: to the great-souled one
• mahātmane: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (चतुर्थी/4), Singular; honorific epithet

• sarva-eka-rūpa-parūpa: to (you) who are all, one, and of form and beyond-form
• sarva-eka-rūpa-parūpa: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + eka (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक) + parūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (चतुर्थी/4), Singular; epithet (textual form ‘ruparupāya’ understood as rūpa-parūpāya)

• nirguṇāya: to the attributeless (one)
• nirguṇāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nirguṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (चतुर्थी/4), Singular

• guṇātmane: to the one whose essence is qualities
• guṇātmane: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (चतुर्थी/4), Singular; ‘whose nature is qualities’

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 reconciles the Supreme as both nirguṇa (beyond qualities and form) and saguna (manifest as all qualities and forms), guiding devotees to worship without limiting God to a single appearance.

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

Bhakti is validated in both modes: one may adore Vishnu in a chosen form (iṣṭa-devatā) while understanding that the same Lord also transcends all form—preventing sectarian limitation and deepening surrender.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; the takeaway is doctrinal clarity used in stuti and mantra-prayoga—praising the Lord as both nirguṇa and sarva-rūpa supports correct devotional intent (bhāva) in worship.