Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 171

The Recitation of the Thousand Names of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa (Yugala-Sahasranāma) and Śaraṇāgati-Dharma

Devanagari script

वृन्तावत्यर्चिता श्रद्धा दुर्ज्ञेया भक्तवल्लभा । दुर्लभा सांद्रसौख्यात्मा श्रेयोहेतुः सुभोगदा ॥ १७१ ॥

Transliteration

vṛntāvatyarcitā śraddhā durjñeyā bhaktavallabhā | durlabhā sāṃdrasaukhyātmā śreyohetuḥ subhogadā || 171 ||

Translation

वृन्तावती येथे पूजिली जाणारी ती श्रद्धा दुर्ज्ञेय, भक्तांना अतिशय प्रिय आणि दुर्लभ आहे. तिचे स्वरूप सघन सुखानंदमय; ती परम श्रेयाचे कारण ठरते व शुभ भोग देते.

Word by Word

• वृन्तावती-आर्चिता: worshipped by Vr̥ntāvatī
• वृन्तावती-आर्चिता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृन्तावती (प्रातिपदिक) + √अर्च् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-कृदन्त ‘आर्चिता’ = ‘पूजिता’; ‘वृन्तावत्या’ इति तृतीया-सम्बन्धः

• श्रद्धा: Śraddhā (faith; personified)
• श्रद्धा: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रद्धा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• दुर्ज्ञेया: hard to know
• दुर्ज्ञेया: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + √ज्ञा (धातु) + य (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्तव्य/अनीयर्-अर्थक कृदन्त ‘ज्ञेया’ = ‘ज्ञातव्या’; ‘दुर्’ उपसर्गेण ‘कठिनतया ज्ञातव्या’

• भक्त-वल्लभा: beloved of devotees
• भक्त-वल्लभा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + वल्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (भक्तानां वल्लभा)

• दुर्लभा: difficult to obtain
• दुर्लभा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + लभ्य (प्रातिपदिक; √लभ्-सम्भव)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• सांद्र-सौख्य-आत्मा: whose nature is dense/abundant bliss
• सांद्र-सौख्य-आत्मा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सांद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + सौख्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-भावः: ‘सांद्रं सौख्यं यस्याः आत्मा/स्वभावः’; आत्मन्-शब्दः स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचन (आत्मा)

• श्रेयः-हेतुः: cause of the highest good
• श्रेयः-हेतुः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेयस् (प्रातिपदिक) + हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (श्रेयसः हेतुः)

• सु-भोग-दा: giver of good enjoyment
• सु-भोग-दा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + भोग (प्रातिपदिक) + दा (प्रातिपदिक; √दा-कर्तृवाचक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘सुभोगं ददाति’ इति (giver of good enjoyment)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a dialogue on dharma and sacred disciplines)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vṛntāvatī
• Śraddhā

FAQs

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

It elevates Śraddhā as a rare, bliss-filled spiritual power that leads to śreyas (the highest good) while also supporting righteous well-being, showing faith as both transformative and fruition-bearing.

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

By calling Śraddhā “beloved of devotees,” it implies bhakti is sustained by deep, worshipful conviction; such Śraddhā is subtle to grasp yet essential for attaining higher spiritual welfare.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse stresses the inner qualification behind ritual and study—Śraddhā—without which technical performance (mantra, rite, or observance) lacks its intended efficacy and higher outcome.