Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 48
The Greatness of Viṣṇu
Uttaṅka’s Hymn, Hari’s Manifestation, and the Boon of Bhakti
कीटेषु पक्षिषु मृगेषु सरीसृपेषु रक्षःपिशाचमनुजेष्वपि यत्र तत्र । जातस्य मे भवतु केशव ते प्रसादात्त्वय्येव भक्तिरचलाव्यभिचारिणी च ॥ ४८ ॥
kīṭeṣu pakṣiṣu mṛgeṣu sarīsṛpeṣu rakṣaḥpiśācamanujeṣvapi yatra tatra | jātasya me bhavatu keśava te prasādāttvayyeva bhaktiracalāvyabhicāriṇī ca || 48 ||
Sama ada aku lahir dalam kalangan serangga, burung, binatang buas, reptilia, atau bahkan sebagai rākṣasa, piśāca, ataupun manusia—di mana pun dan dalam rupa apa pun—dengan rahmat-Mu, wahai Keśava, semoga bhakti-ku hanya kepada-Mu: teguh, tidak menyimpang.
Narada
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It presents bhakti as the supreme continuity across saṃsāra: regardless of birth or realm, the devotee seeks only Keśava’s grace and unwavering devotion, making devotion itself the true refuge.
Bhakti is defined as exclusive (tvayy eva), steady (acalā), and non-deviating (vyabhicāriṇī). The verse teaches that devotion is not dependent on favorable circumstances, status, or even species—only on divine grace and single-pointed surrender.
No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is devotional discipline—maintaining ekānta-bhakti (exclusive devotion) as a constant sādhana regardless of life conditions.