Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 12

The Greatness of Viṣṇu

Uttaṅka’s Hymn, Hari’s Manifestation, and the Boon of Bhakti

Devanagari script

विभुं ज्योतिरनौपम्यं विष्णुसंज्ञं नमाम्यहम् । समस्तमेतदुद्भूतं यतो यत्र प्रतिष्ठितम् ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

vibhuṃ jyotiranaupamyaṃ viṣṇusaṃjñaṃ namāmyaham | samastametadudbhūtaṃ yato yatra pratiṣṭhitam || 12 ||

Translation

വിഷ്ണു എന്ന നാമത്തിൽ പ്രസിദ്ധനായ, സർവ്വവ്യാപിയായ, അനുപമമായ ജ്യോതിസ്സിനെ ഞാൻ നമസ്കരിക്കുന്നു; അവനിൽ നിന്നാണ് ഈ സമസ്ത ജഗത്ത് ഉദ്ഭവിച്ചതും അവനിൽ തന്നെയാണ് അത് പ്രതിഷ്ഠിതമായതും.

Word by Word

• विभुम्: all-pervading, mighty
• विभुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• ज्योतिः: light, radiance
• ज्योतिः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्योतिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मपद (object)

• अनौपम्यम्: incomparable
• अनौपम्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनौपम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• विष्णु-संज्ञम्: named ‘Viṣṇu’
• विष्णु-संज्ञम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + संज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): ‘विष्णोः संज्ञा यस्य’

• नमामि: I bow (salute)
• नमामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तम-पुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• समस्तम्: entire, whole
• समस्तम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• एतत्: this (all)
• एतत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• उद्भूतम्: arisen, originated
• उद्भूतम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद् + भू (धातु) → उद्भूत (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

• यतः: from which
• यतः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यतस् (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बन्ध-अव्यय (relative adverb): ‘from which/whence’

• यत्र: wherein
• यत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देश-अव्यय (relative adverb): ‘where’

• प्रतिष्ठितम्: established, situated
• प्रतिष्ठितम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रति + स्था (धातु) → प्रतिष्ठित (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त

Speaker

Narada

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 identifies Viṣṇu as the incomparable, all-pervading divine Light—the ultimate source from whom the cosmos arises and the support in which it remains established—thereby grounding devotion in a clear metaphysical vision.

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

Bhakti is expressed as namaskāra (reverent surrender): the devotee bows to Viṣṇu not merely as a deity among many, but as the supreme reality (jyoti) that pervades and sustains all existence.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; its practical takeaway is mantra-oriented devotion—using precise sacred epithets (vibhu, jyoti, anaupamya, viṣṇu-saṁjñā) as contemplative aids in prayer and recitation.