Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 90

Vāmana’s Advent, Aditi’s Hymn, Bali’s Gift, and the Mahatmya of Bhū-dāna

Devanagari script

आयान्तं वामनं दृष्ट्वा ऋषयो ज्ञानचक्षुषः । ज्ञात्वा नारायणं देवमुद्ययुः सभ्यसंयुताः ॥ ९० ॥

Transliteration

āyāntaṃ vāmanaṃ dṛṣṭvā ṛṣayo jñānacakṣuṣaḥ | jñātvā nārāyaṇaṃ devamudyayuḥ sabhyasaṃyutāḥ || 90 ||

Translation

वामन येताना पाहून ज्ञानचक्षु ऋषींनी त्याला देव नारायण म्हणून ओळखले; सभ्यांसह ते सत्कारार्थ उभे राहिले।

Word by Word

• आयान्तम्: coming
• आयान्तम्: Karma (कर्म) (object of ‘दृष्ट्वा’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-या (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (Present Participle/शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; qualifies ‘वामनम्’

• वामनम्: Vāmana
• वामनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वामन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: अव्यय-कृदन्त (Gerund/क्त्वा), ‘having seen’

• ऋषयः: the sages
• ऋषयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचन

• ज्ञान-चक्षुषः: having the eye of knowledge
• ज्ञान-चक्षुषः: Karta (कर्ता) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + चक्षुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (‘whose eyes are knowledge’ = ‘having eyes of knowledge’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण of ‘ऋषयः’

• ज्ञात्वा: having recognized
• ज्ञात्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: अव्यय-कृदन्त (Gerund/क्त्वा), ‘having known/recognizing’

• नारायणम्: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणम्: Karma (कर्म) (object of ‘ज्ञात्वा’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• देवम्: the god
• देवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; apposition to ‘नारायणम्’

• उद्ययुः: rose up / went forth
• उद्ययुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-या (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• सभ्य-संयुताः: accompanied by the assembly members
• सभ्य-संयुताः: Karta (कर्ता) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सभ्य (प्रातिपदिक) + संयुत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘accompanied by the सभ्य-s/assembly members’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण of ‘ऋषयः’

Speaker

Suta (narrating the episode; within the broader Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vamana
• Narayana
• Rishis

FAQs

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

It highlights discernment (jñāna-cakṣus): the sages see beyond outer appearance and recognize the Supreme (Nārāyaṇa) even in the humble form of Vāmana, responding with reverence.

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

Bhakti is shown as immediate honoring of the Lord when recognized—rising, receiving, and offering respect—demonstrating loving reverence grounded in true knowledge of who the Lord is.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects dharma of proper conduct (ācāra) and satkāra—ritual-social etiquette for receiving a revered guest—rather than a specific technical Vedanga like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa in this verse.