Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 99

Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas and the Sin-destroying Power of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa

Devanagari script

तत्रापि हरिभक्तिस्तु दुर्लभा परिकीर्त्तिता । तस्मात्तडिल्लतालोलं मानुष्यं प्राप्य दुर्लभम् ॥ ९९ ॥

Transliteration

tatrāpi haribhaktistu durlabhā parikīrttitā | tasmāttaḍillatālolaṃ mānuṣyaṃ prāpya durlabham || 99 ||

Translation

ആ ദുർലഭ പ്രാപ്തികളിലും ഹരി-ഭക്തി അത്യന്തം ദുർലഭമെന്ന് കീര്ത്തിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു. അതിനാൽ മിന്നൽവള്ളിപോലെ ചഞ്ചലമായ ഈ ദുർലഭ മനുഷ്യജന്മം ലഭിച്ചാൽ അത് വ്യർത്ഥമാക്കരുത്।

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb), देशवाचक (locative adverb)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle), समुच्चय/अपि-भाव (also/even)

• हरि-भक्तिः: devotion to Hari
• हरि-भक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (sg.); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (genitive determinative): ‘हरेः भक्तिः’

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थ (but/indeed)

• दुर्लभा: rare/difficult to obtain
• दुर्लभा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन (sg.); विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘भक्तिः’)

• परिकीर्तिता: is proclaimed/declared
• परिकीर्तिता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + कीर्त् (धातु) → कीर्तित (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त-प्रत्यय), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगार्थः—‘(सा) परिकीर्तिता’ = ‘is proclaimed’

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात्-इति निपातवत् (indeclinable ablatival form), हेत्वर्थे (therefore/from that reason)

• तडित्-लता-लोलम्: fickle like a lightning-creeper
• तडित्-लता-लोलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तडित् (प्रातिपदिक) + लता (प्रातिपदिक) + लोल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Acc./2nd), एकवचन (sg.); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (उपमान/संबन्ध): ‘तडितः लतेव लोलम्’ (lightning-creeper-like fickle)

• मानुष्यम्: human life/state
• मानुष्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानुष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Acc./2nd), एकवचन (sg.)

• प्राप्य: having obtained
• प्राप्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु) → प्राप्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), ‘having obtained’

• दुर्लभम्: rare/difficult to obtain
• दुर्लभम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Acc./2nd), एकवचन (sg.); विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘मानुष्यम्’)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It stresses two rarities: human birth and pure devotion to Hari. Because life is momentary like lightning, the verse urges immediate spiritual effort centered on Vishnu-bhakti.

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

It frames bhakti as the highest and rarest attainment, implying that other achievements are secondary; the proper use of human life is to cultivate steadfast devotion to Hari before time slips away.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Vyakarana, Jyotisha, or Kalpa) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is ethical-spiritual urgency—use the fleeting human lifespan for disciplined sadhana and bhakti.