Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 12

Manvantaras and Indras; Sudharmā’s Liberation through Viṣṇu-Pradakṣiṇā; Supremacy of Hari-Bhakti

Devanagari script

सुधर्मेणार्चितः शंक्रो दृष्ट्वा तच्छ्रियमुत्तमाम् । मनसा विस्मयाविष्टः प्रोवाच विनयान्वितः ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

sudharmeṇārcitaḥ śaṃkro dṛṣṭvā tacchriyamuttamām | manasā vismayāviṣṭaḥ provāca vinayānvitaḥ || 12 ||

Translation

सुधर्माने अर्चित झालेला शंकर ती उत्तम श्री पाहून मनाने विस्मयग्रस्त झाला व विनयाने बोलला।

Word by Word

• सुधर्मेण: by Sudharmā
• सुधर्मेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुधर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (सुधर्मा), तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• अर्चितः: honoured
• अर्चितः: Karta (कर्ता) विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्चित (कृदन्त; √अर्च्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle) विशेषण

• शंक्रः: Śaṅkara (Śiva)
• शंक्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriya (क्रिया) सहायक
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund)

• तत्-श्रियम्: that splendor/beauty
• तत्-श्रियम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘तत्’ इति सर्वनाम-विशेषण

• उत्तमाम्: excellent, supreme
• उत्तमाम्: Karma (कर्म) विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of श्रियम्)

• मनसा: with (his) mind
• मनसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• विस्मयाविष्टः: overcome by wonder
• विस्मयाविष्टः: Karta (कर्ता) विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विस्मय (प्रातिपदिक) + आविष्ट (कृदन्त; √विश्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; तृतीया-तत्पुरुषभावः ‘विस्मयेन आविष्टः’

• प्रोवाच: said
• प्रोवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; उपसर्ग ‘प्र’

• विनय-अन्वितः: endowed with humility
• विनय-अन्वितः: Karta (कर्ता) विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विनय (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्वित (कृदन्त; √अन्वि/अन्वय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; तृतीया-तत्पुरुषभावः ‘विनयेन अन्वितः’

Speaker

Narrator (Suta-style narration within the Purana context; verse describes Śaṅkara speaking next)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Sudharmā
• Śaṅkara (Śiva)

FAQs

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

It highlights that sincere worship (arcana) evokes divine presence and splendour, and that even great beings respond with humility—showing vinaya as a spiritual ornament accompanying true dharma.

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

Bhakti is shown as reverent service that culminates in a direct experience of divine ‘śrī’ (radiance/grace); the devotee’s offering leads to a transformative moment where the deity responds gently and respectfully.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse implicitly reflects kalpa-style ritual discipline—arcana (formal worship) done correctly—while stressing the ethical foundation (vinaya) that should accompany any rite.