Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

अनन्यचिंतनीयोऽसौ प्रपन्नैः शरणार्थिभिः । स्थेयं च देहगेहादावुदासीनतया बुधैः ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

ananyaciṃtanīyo'sau prapannaiḥ śaraṇārthibhiḥ | stheyaṃ ca dehagehādāvudāsīnatayā budhaiḥ || 21 ||

Translation

ശരണാഗതരായി അഭയം തേടുന്നവർ അവനെയേ അനന്യമായി ധ്യാനിക്കണം; ജ്ഞാനികൾ ദേഹം, ഗൃഹം മുതലായവയോടു ഉദാസീനതയോടെ നിലകൊള്ളണം।

Word by Word

• अनन्यचिन्तनीयः: to be contemplated exclusively (only)
• अनन्यचिन्तनीयः: Visheshya (विशेष्य-सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्य-चिन्तनीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्तव्य/अनीयर्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (चिन्त् + अनीयर्); समासः—अनन्यं चिन्तनीयः (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषार्थः: ‘अन्यं विना चिन्तनीयः’)

• असौ: he (that one)
• असौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• प्रपन्नैः: by the surrendered ones
• प्रपन्नैः: Kartr-karana (कर्ता-समूह/साधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रपन्न (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (प्र-√पद्/√पन् ‘शरणं गच्छति’ अर्थे)

• शरणार्थिभिः: by those seeking refuge
• शरणार्थिभिः: Kartr-karana (कर्ता-समूह/साधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण-अर्थिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—शरणम् अर्थयते इति (तत्पुरुष)

• स्थेयम्: one should remain/abide
• स्थेयम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: भावे कर्मणि प्रयोगः; विध्यर्थे—तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (√स्था + यत्) नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘स्थातव्यम्’ अर्थः

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• देहगेहादौ: in/with regard to body, home, etc.
• देहगेहादौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह-गेह-आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः—देह + गेह (द्वन्द्व) + आदि (तत्पुरुष/उपपद)

• उदासीनतया: with indifference, detachment
• उदासीनतया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदासीनता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• बुधैः: by the wise
• बुधैः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It defines two pillars of liberation: exclusive remembrance of the Lord by the surrendered (prapanna) and steady detachment (udāsīnatā) toward bodily and worldly identifications.

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

It teaches ananya-bhakti—single-minded contemplation of Vishnu—especially for those who have taken śaraṇāgati (refuge), making devotion the central, uninterrupted practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It is primarily an upāsanā and mokṣa-dharma instruction rather than a technical Vedanga rule; the practical takeaway is disciplined mental focus (ananya-cintana) and cultivated vairāgya in daily life.