Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 157

Pāpa-bheda, Naraka-yātanā, Mahāpātaka-vicāra, Atonement Limits, Daśa-vidhā Bhakti, and Gaṅgā as Final Remedy

Devanagari script

तस्माद्धर्मपरो भूत्वा पूजयस्व जनार्दनम् । नारायणमणीयांसं सुखमेष्यसि शाश्वतम् ॥ १५७ ॥

Transliteration

tasmāddharmaparo bhūtvā pūjayasva janārdanam | nārāyaṇamaṇīyāṃsaṃ sukhameṣyasi śāśvatam || 157 ||

Translation

അതുകൊണ്ട് ധർമ്മപരനായി ജനാർദനനെ പൂജിക്ക. അണുവിലും സൂക്ഷ്മനായ നാരായണനെ ആരാധിച്ചാൽ നീ ശാശ്വതസുഖം പ്രാപിക്കും।

Word by Word

• tasmāt: therefore
• tasmāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात्-इति अव्ययवत् (therefore)

• dharma-paraḥ: devoted to dharma
• dharma-paraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (धर्मे परः = devoted to dharma)

• bhūtvā: having become
• bhūtvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive) ‘having become’

• pūjayasva: worship
• pūjayasva: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pūj (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), आत्मनेपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

• janārdanam: Janardana (Vishnu)
• janārdanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janārdana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• nārāyaṇam: Narayana
• nārāyaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• aṇīyāṃsam: more subtle/very minute
• aṇīyāṃsam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṇīyas (प्रातिपदिक; comparative of aṇu)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तुलनात्मक (comparative)

• sukham: happiness/with ease
• sukham: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण (adverbial accusative: happily/with ease)

• eṣyasi: you will attain/go to
• eṣyasi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: i (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

• śāśvatam: eternal
• śāśvatam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śāśvata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘eternal’ (sukha-viśeṣaṇa)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

Secondary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Janardana
• Narayana

FAQs

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

It links dharma with direct worship of Vishnu (Janardana/Narayana), declaring that righteous living culminates in devotion that yields śāśvata-sukha—lasting spiritual bliss.

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

Bhakti is presented as practical worship (pūjā) grounded in dharma; turning one’s life toward righteous conduct and devotion to Narayana is said to lead to eternal fulfillment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes upāsanā and pūjā as dharma-based practice rather than a specific Vedanga; practically, it implies correct ritual conduct (kalpa-oriented discipline) aligned with righteous living.