Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 66

Śrāddha-prayoga: Niyama, Brāhmaṇa-parīkṣā, Kutapa-kāla, Tithi-nyāya, and Vaiṣṇava-phala

Devanagari script

स्मरेन्नारायणं देवमनंतमपराजितम् । रक्षोघ्नान्वैष्णवांश्चैव पैतृकांश्चविशेषतः ॥ ६६ ॥

Transliteration

smarennārāyaṇaṃ devamanaṃtamaparājitam | rakṣoghnānvaiṣṇavāṃścaiva paitṛkāṃścaviśeṣataḥ || 66 ||

Translation

Hendaklah mengingati Tuhan Nārāyaṇa—Yang Ilahi, Ananta (tiada bertepi) dan Aparājita (tidak terkalahkan). Terutama ketika melaksanakan upacara pelindung yang memusnahkan rākṣasa, amalan Vaiṣṇava, dan juga ritus paitṛka bagi para leluhur, hendaklah mengingati-Nya.

Word by Word

• स्मरेत्: should remember
• स्मरेत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नारायणम्: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• देवम्: the god
• देवम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; नारायणम् इति विशेष्यस्य समानाधिकरण

• अनन्तम्: endless; infinite
• अनन्तम्: विशेषण (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; देवम्/नारायणम् विशेषण

• अपराजितम्: unconquered; invincible
• अपराजितम्: विशेषण (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपराजित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; देवम्/नारायणम् विशेषण

• रक्षोघ्नान्: demon-slaying (mantras/rites)
• रक्षोघ्नान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्षस् + घ्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: रक्षसां घ्नाः (slayers of demons)

• वैष्णवान्: Vaiṣṇava (related to Viṣṇu)
• वैष्णवान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैष्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक conjunction

• एव: indeed
• एव: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण/निश्चयार्थ particle (indeed/only)

• पैतृकान्: ancestral; pertaining to the Pitṛs
• पैतृकान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पैतृक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक conjunction

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: सम्बन्ध (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (especially)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Vaiṣṇava observances (general) and Paitṛka rites (Śrāddha)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narayana (Vishnu)

FAQs

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

It establishes smaraṇa (remembrance) of Nārāyaṇa as the inner sanctifying act that empowers rites—protective, Vaiṣṇava, and ancestral—making them spiritually effective and aligned with dharma.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as constant remembrance of the Lord; even when engaged in ritual duties, the devotee anchors the mind in Nārāyaṇa, turning karma into devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to ritual application (Kalpa/Smārta-prayoga): during specific karmas like protective rites and Śrāddha, one should integrate Vaiṣṇava remembrance/mantra-intent as the governing principle.