Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

नमस्ते लोकनाथाय परमज्ञानरुपिणे । सद्भक्तजनवात्सल्यशालिने मङ्गलात्मने ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

namaste lokanāthāya paramajñānarupiṇe | sadbhaktajanavātsalyaśāline maṅgalātmane || 21 ||

Translation

Sembah sujud kepada-Mu, Tuhan segala alam, yang hakikat-Mu ialah pengetahuan tertinggi; yang melimpah kasih sayang kepada para bhakta sejati, dan yang zat-Nya sendiri adalah keberkatan yang suci.

Word by Word

• namaḥ: salutations
• namaḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya); नमस्कारार्थक-निपात (salutatory particle)

• te: to you
• te: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun); षष्ठी? न; चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन (singular) — enclitic form ‘ते’ = ‘to you’

• lokanāthāya: to the Lord of the worlds
• lokanāthāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka + nātha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine); चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): लोकानां नाथः

• parama-jñāna-rūpiṇe: to the one whose nature is supreme knowledge
• parama-jñāna-rūpiṇe: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama + jñāna + rūpin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine); चतुर्थी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: परमं ज्ञानं यस्य रूपम्/स्वरूपम् (one whose form is supreme knowledge)

• sat-bhakta-jana-vātsalya-śāline: to the one endowed with affection for true devotees
• sat-bhakta-jana-vātsalya-śāline: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat + bhakta + jana + vātsalya + śālin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: सद्भक्तजनानां वात्सल्यं यस्य अस्ति (possessing affection for true devotees)

• maṅgala-ātmane: to the auspicious-souled one
• maṅgala-ātmane: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maṅgala + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: मङ्गलः आत्मा यस्य / मङ्गलात्मा (one whose very self is auspicious)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It frames the Supreme Lord as both transcendental wisdom (parama-jñāna) and personal grace (vātsalya), teaching that liberation and wellbeing arise through reverent surrender to the auspicious Lord of all worlds.

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

By praising the Lord’s special tenderness toward sincere devotees (sad-bhakta), it emphasizes that bhakti is met with divine compassion, making devotion a direct, relational path to the Supreme.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga technique is taught in this verse; it functions as a stuti (praise-invocation), a practical liturgical element used to begin or sanctify recitation and ritual with maṅgala (auspiciousness).