Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 56

Yajñamālī–Sumālī Upākhyāna: Merit-Transfer through Temple Plastering (Lepa) and the Redemption of a Sinner

Devanagari script

व्याहरन्हरिनामानि प्रपेदे जाह्नवीतटम् । तत्र स्नातश्च गंगायां दृष्ट्वा विश्वेश्वरं प्रभुम् ॥ ५५ ॥

Transliteration

vyāharanharināmāni prapede jāhnavītaṭam | tatra snātaśca gaṃgāyāṃ dṛṣṭvā viśveśvaraṃ prabhum || 55 ||

Translation

हरिनामांचा जप करीत तो जाह्नवी (गंगा) तीरावर पोहोचला. तेथे गंगेत स्नान करून त्याने प्रभु विश्वेश्वराचे दर्शन घेतले.

Word by Word

• व्याहरन्: he uttered
• व्याहरन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-आ-√हृ (धातु; ‘to utter’)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमा-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; वर्तमानकाले कथनम् (narrative present)

• हरिनामानि: the names of Hari
• हरिनामानि: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरिनामन् (प्रातिपदिक: हरि + नामन्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्म (what is uttered)

• प्रपेदे: he reached
• प्रपेदे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√पद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमा-पुरुष, एकवचन; ‘he reached’

• जाह्नवीतटम्: the bank of the Jāhnavī (Gaṅgā)
• जाह्नवीतटम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाह्नवीतट (प्रातिपदिक: जाह्नवी + तट)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; गत्यर्थे कर्म

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of place) ‘there’

• स्नातः: having bathed
• स्नातः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्ना (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्तान्तः ‘having bathed/bathed’ (predicate participle)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात (conjunction)

• गंगायाम्: in the Gaṅgā
• गंगायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अधिकरण (where he bathed)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Converb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund) ‘having seen’

• विश्वेश्वरम्: Viśveśvara (Lord of the universe)
• विश्वेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक: विश्व + ईश्वर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्म

• प्रभुम्: the Lord
• प्रभुम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विश्वेश्वरम् इत्यस्य विशेषण/अप्पोजिशन

Speaker

Narada (within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue framework; narrative voice describing the act)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Ganga (Jahnavi)
• Vishveshvara

FAQs

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

It links three classical purāṇic means of purification—Hari-nāma (chanting), tīrtha-yātrā (reaching the Gaṅgā), and snāna (ritual bath)—culminating in darśana of the Lord, showing devotion ripening into direct spiritual vision.

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

Bhakti is shown as active remembrance: continuous utterance of Hari’s names accompanies the journey, and that sustained nāma-smaraṇa prepares the devotee for sacred action (Gaṅgā-snān) and the grace of beholding the Lord (Viśveśvara).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse primarily reflects kalpa-style practice (ritual conduct): tīrtha-snān as a dhārmic observance, supported by disciplined recitation (nāma-japa). It is not a technical exposition of vyākaraṇa or jyotiṣa in this line.