Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 157

Mahāviṣṇu-Mantras: Aṣṭākṣarī, Sudarśana-Astra, Nyāsa Systems, Āvaraṇa-Pūjā, and Prayogas

Devanagari script

पुरुषोत्तमत्रिभुवनोन्मादकांतेऽग्निवर्म च । हृदयं कीर्तितं पश्चाज्जगत्क्षोभणशब्दतः ॥ १५७ ॥

Transliteration

puruṣottamatribhuvanonmādakāṃte'gnivarma ca | hṛdayaṃ kīrtitaṃ paścājjagatkṣobhaṇaśabdataḥ || 157 ||

Translation

അനന്തരം “പുരുഷോത്തമ”, “ത്രിഭുവനോന്മാദകാന്തേ” എന്നും “അഗ്നിവർമൻ” എന്നും ഉച്ചരിച്ച്, പിന്നെ ഹൃദയമന്ത്രം പ്രസ്താവിക്കുന്നു; തുടർന്ന് “ജഗത്ക്ഷോഭണ” (ജഗത്തെ കുലുക്കുന്നവൻ) എന്ന ശബ്ദം ഉച്ചരിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• puruṣottama-tribhuvana-unmādaka-ante: at the end of “Puruṣottama-tribhuvana-unmādaka” (word/segment)
• puruṣottama-tribhuvana-unmādaka-ante: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: puruṣottama (प्रातिपदिक) + tribhuvana (प्रातिपदिक) + unmādaka (प्रातिपदिक) + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverbial-locative sense via -ante (अन्ते = locative meaning “at the end of”); compound used as adverbial qualifier

• agni-varma: the word/segment “agnivarma”
• agni-varma: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक) + varman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd; प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); used as a named segment/word

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• hṛdayam: the heart (word/part named “hṛdaya”)
• hṛdayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hṛdaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd; प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• kīrtitam: is declared/mentioned
• kīrtitam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kīrtita (कृदन्त; √kīrt/√kīrti? from √kīrtay ‘to proclaim’, past passive participle)
• Form: Past Passive Participle (क्त/कृत्), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; passive sense “is said/has been declared”

• paścāt: afterwards
• paścāt: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paścāt (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक अव्यय)

• jagat-kṣobhaṇa-śabdataḥ: from/by the word “jagatkṣobhaṇa”
• jagat-kṣobhaṇa-śabdataḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक) + kṣobhaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + śabda (प्रातिपदिक) + tas (तस्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Ablatival adverb (तसिल्/तस्), “from/by the word”; compound qualifies source/instrument of naming

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical/vidyā-style sequence of sacred names/mantras)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Purushottama

FAQs

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

It presents a precise sequence of divine epithets culminating in the “hṛdaya” (essence/heart-mantra), emphasizing that correctly uttered sacred names function as the concentrated essence of devotion and power.

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

Bhakti is framed as nāma-kīrtana (recitation of the Lord’s names): addressing Vishnu as Puruṣottama and as the enchanting beloved of all realms, the devotee approaches the Lord through affectionate, praise-filled invocation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects a technical mantra-recitation method—ordering of words/epithets and the notion of a “hṛdaya” (core formula), aligning with Vedāṅga concerns like correct utterance and structured liturgical usage.