Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 49

The Origin of the Gaṅgā and the Gods’ Defeat Caused by Bali

Devanagari script

एवमुक्त्वासुराः सर्वे हरिध्यानपरायणाम् । निरीक्ष्य क्रोधसंयुक्ता हन्तुं चक्रुर्मनोरथम् ॥ ४९ ॥

Transliteration

evamuktvāsurāḥ sarve haridhyānaparāyaṇām | nirīkṣya krodhasaṃyuktā hantuṃ cakrurmanoratham || 49 ||

Translation

असे बोलून ते सर्व असुर हरिध्यानात तल्लीन असलेल्या तिला पाहून क्रोधाने पेटले आणि मनोरथेचा वध करण्याचा निर्धार करू लागले।

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (prior action): “having said”

• असुराः: the demons
• असुराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (adjective) असुराः इति विशेष्यस्य

• हरि-ध्यान-परायणाम्: (her) devoted to meditation on Hari
• हरि-ध्यान-परायणाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक) + ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक) + परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुषसमासः (determinative): हरिध्यानपरायणा = “devoted to meditation on Hari”

• निरीक्ष्य: having observed
• निरीक्ष्य: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + ईक्ष् (धातु) + ल्यप् (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया: “having looked at/observed”

• क्रोध-संयुक्ताः: filled with anger
• क्रोध-संयुक्ताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रोध (प्रातिपदिक) + संयुक्त (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः: क्रोधेन संयुक्ताः = “joined with anger/angry”

• हन्तुम्: to kill
• हन्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु) + तुमुन् (तुमन्त)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive), प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य (purpose): “to kill”

• चक्रुः: they made/formed
• चक्रुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; “they did/made”

• मनोरथम्: an intention/plan
• मनोरथम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनोरथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic discourse; likely Sūta conveying the account)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra (anger)

Secondary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Asuras
• Manoratha

FAQs

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

It highlights a recurring Purāṇic theme: steadfast absorption in Hari (haridhyāna) provokes opposition from asuric forces, yet such trials underscore the devotee’s unwavering spiritual orientation and the power of single-pointed devotion.

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

By describing Manorathā as “haridhyāna-parāyaṇā,” the verse presents bhakti as continual remembrance/meditation on Vishnu; the devotee’s inner commitment remains central even when external hostility arises.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga practice is taught directly in this verse; the practical takeaway is the discipline of dhyāna (meditative remembrance) as a bhakti-based sādhanā rather than a technical instruction in Śikṣā, Vyākaraṇa, or Jyotiṣa.