Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 148

The Recitation of the Thousand Names of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa (Yugala-Sahasranāma) and Śaraṇāgati-Dharma

Devanagari script

कोटितीर्थमयी सत्या कोटितीर्थफलप्रदा । कोटियोगसुदुष्प्राप्या कोटियज्ञदुराश्रया ॥ १४८ ॥

Transliteration

koṭitīrthamayī satyā koṭitīrthaphalapradā | koṭiyogasuduṣprāpyā koṭiyajñadurāśrayā || 148 ||

Translation

സത്യം കോടി തീർത്ഥങ്ങളുടെ സാരസ്വരൂപം; കോടി തീർത്ഥഫലം നൽകുന്നതും അതുതന്നെ. അത് കോടി യോഗങ്ങളേക്കാളും ദുഷ്പ്രാപ്യം; കോടി യജ്ഞങ്ങളേക്കാളും ദുർലഭമായ ആശ്രയം.

Word by Word

• कोटितीर्थमयी: consisting of crores of sacred fords
• कोटितीर्थमयी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोटि-तीर्थ-मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: कोटि-तीर्थैः मयी/मयī = ‘consisting of crores of tīrthas’

• सत्या: true; genuine
• सत्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• कोटितीर्थफलप्रदा: giver of the merit of crores of pilgrimages
• कोटितीर्थफलप्रदा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोटि-तीर्थ-फल-प्रद (प्रातिपदिक; प्रद from √दा (धातु) with उपसर्ग ‘प्र’)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: कोटि-तीर्थस्य फलम्; तत् प्रदा = ‘giver of the fruit of crores of tīrthas’

• कोटियोगसुदुष्प्राप्या: very difficult to attain even by crores of yogic practices
• कोटियोगसुदुष्प्राप्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोटि-योग-सु-दुष्-प्राप्य (प्रातिपदिक; प्राप्य = √प्राप् (धातु) यत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा, एकवचन; यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive) ‘प्राप्या’ = ‘attainable’; उपपद/उपसर्ग: सु- (intensifier) + दुष्- (difficult) => ‘very difficult to attain’; तत्पुरुष: कोटि-योगैः (by crores of yogas)

• कोटियज्ञदुराश्रया: hard to obtain as refuge even through crores of sacrifices
• कोटियज्ञदुराश्रया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोटि-यज्ञ-दुर्-आश्रय (प्रातिपदिक; आश्रय from √श्रि (धातु) with उपसर्ग ‘आ’)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: कोटि-यज्ञैः (by crores of sacrifices) + दुराश्रया = ‘hard to take refuge in/obtain as support’

Speaker

Narada (within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It elevates satya as an inner tīrtha: a single firm commitment to truth is portrayed as carrying the merit of vast external religious acts, showing dharma begins with integrity.

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

Bhakti is grounded in sincerity; the verse implies that without truthfulness, even pilgrimage, yoga, or sacrifice become hollow, while truthful living supports genuine devotional steadiness.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A practical takeaway for ritual culture is emphasized: the efficacy of yajña and other observances depends on ethical qualification (satya), a core dharmic rule that safeguards correct practice.