Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

परपीडारता ये तु भूतवेतालकादयः । नश्यन्ति यत्र सद्भक्तो हरिलक्ष्म्यर्चने रतः ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

parapīḍāratā ye tu bhūtavetālakādayaḥ | naśyanti yatra sadbhakto harilakṣmyarcane rataḥ || 9 ||

Translation

മറ്റുള്ളവരെ പീഡിപ്പിക്കുന്നതിൽ രതരായ ഭൂത-വേതാളാദികൾ—സദ്ഭക്തൻ ഹരി-ലക്ഷ്മീ അർച്ചനയിൽ ലീനനായിരിക്കുന്നിടത്ത് നശിച്ചുപോകുന്നു.

Word by Word

• परपीडारताः: engaged in tormenting others
• परपीडारताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर-पीडा-रत (प्रातिपदिक; रत = √रम् (धातु) क्त-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण; परपीडायां रताः (devoted to harming others)

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धक-प्रत्यय (relative pronoun: “who”)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-निपात (particle: “but/indeed”)

• भूतवेतालकादयः: bhūtas, vetālas, and the like
• भूतवेतालकादयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत-वेतालक-आदयः (प्रातिपदिक; आदयः = आदि (प्रातिपदिक))
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; समाहार/समुच्चयार्थ-द्वन्द्व (भूताश्च वेतालकाश्च इत्यादयः)

• नश्यन्ति: perish/disappear
• नश्यन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √नश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (relative adverb: “where”)

• सद्भक्तः: a true devotee
• सद्भक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्-भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (सन् भक्तः = good/true devotee)

• हरिलक्ष्म्यर्चने: in the worship of Hari and Lakṣmī
• हरिलक्ष्म्यर्चने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि-लक्ष्मी-अर्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; द्वन्द्व (हरिश्च लक्ष्मीश्च तयोः अर्चनम्)

• रतः: engaged/devoted
• रतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत (प्रातिपदिक; √रम् (धातु) क्त-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (सद्भक्तः इत्यस्य)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu)
• Lakshmi
• Bhuta
• Vetala

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that genuine devotion (sat-bhakti) and worship of Hari with Lakṣmī creates a spiritually pure field in which harmful, tamasic forces like bhūtas and vetālas cannot remain.

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

It presents bhakti as both transformative and protective: when a devotee is absorbed in Hari-Lakṣmī arcana, negativity that feeds on harming others is naturally dispelled.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual application is implied through arcana (formal worship): maintaining purity, mantra-based worship, and disciplined devotional practice—rather than a technical Vedāṅga like Jyotiṣa or Vyākaraṇa.