Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 161

The Exposition of the Krishna Mantra (Kṛṣṇa-mantra-prakāśa): Nyāsa, Dhyāna, Worship, Yantra, and Prayoga

Devanagari script

नित्यं पूजा हरेः कार्या न तु केवलभूतले । एवं यो भजंते कृष्णं स याति परमां गतिम् ॥ १६१ ॥

Transliteration

nityaṃ pūjā hareḥ kāryā na tu kevalabhūtale | evaṃ yo bhajaṃte kṛṣṇaṃ sa yāti paramāṃ gatim || 161 ||

Translation

ഹരിയുടെ പൂജ നിത്യം ചെയ്യേണ്ടതാണ്; വെറും ബാഹ്യ ഭൂതലത്തിൽ മാത്രം അല്ല. ഇങ്ങനെ ശ്രീകൃഷ്ണനെ ഭജിക്കുന്നവൻ പരമഗതിയെ പ്രാപിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण/adverb)

• पूजा: worship
• पूजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• हरेः: of Hari
• हरेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case/genitive), एकवचन

• कार्या: should be done
• कार्या: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + यत् (कृत् प्रत्यय) → कार्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; विधेयविशेषण/predicative adjective; ‘to be done/should be done’ (gerundive)

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय/negative particle

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/अन्वयार्थक particle (‘but/indeed’)

• केवल-भूतले: on the mere ground (only on earth)
• केवल-भूतले: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केवल (प्रातिपदिक) + भूतल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case/locative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (‘केवलं भूतलम्’)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक/adverb (‘thus/in this way’)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक relative pronoun

• भजन्ते: worship
• भजन्ते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• कृष्णम्: Krishna
• कृष्णम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case/accusative), एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; correlative pronoun

• याति: goes/attains
• याति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• परमाम्: supreme
• परमाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; विशेषण (गति-विशेषण)

• गतिम्: state/goal
• गतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case/accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Krishna
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It teaches that daily worship of Hari is essential and that devotion must not remain merely external or occasional; sincere, regular bhajana leads to the supreme spiritual attainment (paramā gati).

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

Bhakti here is defined by constancy (nityam) and wholehearted service (bhajana) to Kṛṣṇa/Hari, emphasizing sustained devotion rather than sporadic ritual performance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse primarily highlights ritual discipline (nitya-pūjā) and correct devotional practice; it aligns with Kalpa (procedural aspects of worship) rather than technical grammar or astrology.