Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 51

Bhakti-Śraddhā-Ācāra-Māhātmya and the Commencement of the Mārkaṇḍeya Narrative

Devanagari script

युगानाम युतं ब्रह्मन्गृणन्ब्रह्म सनातनम् ॥ट । निराहारः क्षमायुक्तः सत्यसन्धो जितेन्द्रियः ॥ ५१ ॥

Transliteration

yugānāma yutaṃ brahmangṛṇanbrahma sanātanam ||ṭa | nirāhāraḥ kṣamāyuktaḥ satyasandho jitendriyaḥ || 51 ||

Translation

हे ब्राह्मण! तो दहा हजार युगांपर्यंत सनातन ब्रह्माचे स्तवन करीत राहिला—निराहार, क्षमायुक्त, सत्यनिष्ठ आणि इंद्रियजयी।

Word by Word

• युगानाम्: of yugas/ages
• युगानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• युतम्: a myriad/ten thousand (measure)
• युतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; संख्यावाचक-परिमाण (a multitude/ten-thousand)

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahman (O sage)
• ब्रह्मन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• गृणन्: praising/reciting
• गृणन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गॄ (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle/शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; परस्मैपदी

• ब्रह्म: Brahman/the Absolute
• ब्रह्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्/ब्रह्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• सनातनम्: eternal
• सनातनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सनातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• निराहारः: fasting/without food
• निराहारः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निराहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—निः + आहारः (उपपद-तत्पुरुष/नञ्-समासभाव)

• क्षमायुक्तः: endowed with forbearance
• क्षमायुक्तः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षमा+युक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle of युज्), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—क्षमया युक्तः (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष)

• सत्यसन्धः: true to his vow/steadfast in truth
• सत्यसन्धः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य+सन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—सत्ये सन्धः/सत्यसन्धिः (तत्पुरुष)

• जितेन्द्रियः: one who has conquered the senses
• जितेन्द्रियः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जित+इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP of जि), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—इन्द्रियाणि जितानि येन (तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada; addressing him as 'brahman')

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Brahman

FAQs

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

It defines the archetype of a perfected practitioner: long-term remembrance and praise of the eternal Brahman supported by austerity (fasting), forgiveness, truthfulness, and mastery of the senses—qualities that purify the mind for liberation.

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

Bhakti here appears as sustained glorification (gṛṇan) of the eternal Reality; the verse teaches that devotion becomes steady and transformative when anchored in ethical vows—truth, patience, and sense-control—rather than emotion alone.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

While no specific Vedanga is named, the emphasis on disciplined recitation/praise (gṛṇan) aligns with Shiksha (proper utterance) and Vyakarana (clarity of expression), and the vrata-like discipline of nirāhāra reflects applied ritual-ethics within dharma practice.