Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 12

The Characteristics of Devotion to Hari

Devanagari script

तन्मनः संयुतं विष्णौ सा वाणी यत्परायणा । ते श्रोत्रे तत्कथासारपूरिते लोकवन्दिते ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

tanmanaḥ saṃyutaṃ viṣṇau sā vāṇī yatparāyaṇā | te śrotre tatkathāsārapūrite lokavandite || 12 ||

Translation

വിഷ്ണുവിൽ യുക്തമായ മനസ് ധന്യം; അവനിലേക്കേ പരായണമായ വാക്ക് ധന്യം. അവന്റെ കഥാസാരം നിറഞ്ഞ് ലോകം വാഴ്ത്തുന്ന ചെവികൾ ധന്യം।

Word by Word

• तत्-मनः: that mind (your mind fixed on Him)
• तत्-मनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (तत् एव मनः)

• संयुतम्: united/attached
• संयुतम्: Karta-anvaya (कर्तरि विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + युज् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (मनः); अर्थः ‘joined/connected’

• विष्णौ: in/unto Vishnu
• विष्णौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• सा: that (she/that)
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• वाणी: speech
• वाणी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• यत्-परायणा: devoted to Him / having Him as the sole refuge
• यत्-परायणा: Karta-anvaya (कर्तरि विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (यस्य परायणम्/यत्परायणः) विशेषणम् (वाणी)

• ते: those two (ears)
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; सर्वनाम; विशेष्य-निर्देशः (श्रोत्रे)

• श्रोत्रे: (the two) ears
• श्रोत्रे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रोत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• तत्-कथा-सार-पूरिते: filled with the essence of His stories
• तत्-कथा-सार-पूरिते: Karta-anvaya (कर्तरि विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + कथा + सार + पूरित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त ‘पूरित’ (√पॄ/पूर्) ; समासः (तस्य कथायाः सारः) + तत्; विशेषणम् (श्रोत्रे)

• लोकवन्दिते: praised by the world
• लोकवन्दिते: Karta-anvaya (कर्तरि विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोक + वन्दित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (√वन्द्) ; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (लोकैः वन्दिते) विशेषणम् (श्रोत्रे)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the dialogue on devotion)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It defines true sanctity as inner and outer devotion: a mind fixed on Vishnu, speech dedicated to Him, and ears nourished by the essence of Vishnu-katha—showing bhakti as a complete transformation of attention and conduct.

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

It highlights core bhakti disciplines—remembering (mind), praising/teaching (speech), and hearing (śravaṇa). Devotion is portrayed as continuous orientation toward Vishnu through these faculties.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Direct Vedanga instruction is not explicit; the practical takeaway is disciplined śravaṇa (listening) and purposeful vāṇī (speech), which supports correct recitation and transmission of sacred narratives (a foundation for śikṣā—proper oral tradition).