Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 112

Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas and the Sin-destroying Power of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa

Devanagari script

विष्णुभक्तिविहीनानां किं तपोभिर्व्रतैरपि ॥ ११२ ॥

Transliteration

viṣṇubhaktivihīnānāṃ kiṃ tapobhirvratairapi || 112 ||

Translation

Bagi mereka yang tiada bhakti kepada Viṣṇu, apakah gunanya tapa dan vrata, walaupun dilakukan?

Word by Word

• विष्णु-भक्ति-विहीनानाम्: of those devoid of devotion to Vishnu
• विष्णु-भक्ति-विहीनानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + विहीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — masculine, genitive plural; ‘of those devoid of Viṣṇu-bhakti’

• किम्: what (use)
• किम्: Prashna (प्रश्न)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — neuter interrogative

• तपोभिः: with austerities
• तपोभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — neuter, instrumental plural

• व्रतैः: with vows
• व्रतैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — neuter, instrumental plural

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/सम्भावना-अव्यय (particle: even)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching 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 asserts that tapas (austerity) and vrata (vowed observances) gain true spiritual value only when rooted in Viṣṇu-bhakti; without devotion they become external acts lacking liberating power.

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

Bhakti is presented as the essential inner principle that makes all disciplines effective; devotion is not an optional add-on but the core that sanctifies and fulfills religious practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse indirectly prioritizes intention and devotion over mere ritual technique—implying that mastery of ritual observance (kalpa-type practice) is incomplete if it is not aligned with devotion to Viṣṇu.