Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 97

Yuga-Dharma Framework, Kali-Yuga Diagnosis, and the Hari-Nāma Remedy

Transition to Vedānta Inquiry

Devanagari script

समस्तजगदाधारं परमार्थस्वरुपिणम् । घोरे कलियुगे प्राप्ते विष्णुं ध्यायन्न सीदति ॥ ९७ ॥

Transliteration

samastajagadādhāraṃ paramārthasvarupiṇam | ghore kaliyuge prāpte viṣṇuṃ dhyāyanna sīdati || 97 ||

Translation

സകല ജഗത്തിന്റെയും ആധാരവും പരമാർത്ഥസ്വരൂപനും ആയ വിഷ്ണുവിനെ ഘോര കലിയുഗത്തിൽ ധ്യാനിക്കുന്നവൻ ദുഃഖത്തിൽ പതിക്കുകയില്ല।

Word by Word

• समस्त-जगत्-आधारम्: the support of the entire world
• समस्त-जगत्-आधारम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समस्त (प्रातिपदिक) + जगत् (प्रातिपदिक) + आधार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (जगताम् आधारः), ‘समस्त’ इति विशेषणपूर्वपद; कर्मपदम्

• परम-अर्थ-स्वरूपिणम्: whose nature is the supreme truth
• परम-अर्थ-स्वरूपिणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वरूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (परमः अर्थः यस्य स्वरूपम्/स्वरूपिणः); ‘स्वरूपिन्’ = -in प्रत्ययान्त

• घोरे: terrible
• घोरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ‘कलियुगे’ इति विशेषणम्

• कलि-युगे: in the Kali age
• कलि-युगे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलि (प्रातिपदिक) + युग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कलेः युगम्)

• प्राप्ते: having arrived / when it has come
• प्राप्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative absolute)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु) → प्राप्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ‘कलियुगे’ इत्यस्य सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute): ‘when the Kali age has come’

• विष्णुम्: Vishnu
• विष्णुम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ध्यायन् इत्यस्य कर्म

• ध्यायन्: meditating (on)
• ध्यायन्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु) → ध्यायत् (शतृ/वर्तमान कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगः—‘(सः) ध्यायन्’

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• सीदति: sinks/despairs
• सीदति: Kriya (क्रिया/finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Kali Yuga

FAQs

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

It declares Viṣṇu-meditation as a direct refuge in Kali Yuga: remembering the Lord who sustains the cosmos and embodies the Supreme Truth prevents inner collapse into sorrow and spiritual defeat.

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

Bhakti here expresses itself as dhyāna—steady contemplative remembrance of Viṣṇu. The verse teaches that devotion is not merely ritual but an inner anchoring in the Lord’s reality, which protects the devotee amid Kali Yuga’s turbulence.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is the discipline of dhyāna (meditative remembrance) as a daily sādhanā suited to Kali Yuga.