Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 61

Hari-nāma Mahimā and Caraṇāmṛta: The Redemption of the Hunter Gulika

Uttaṅka Itihāsa

Devanagari script

हरिपादोदकस्पर्शाल्लुब्धको गतकल्मषः । दिव्यं विमानमारुह्य मुनिमेतदथाब्रवीत् ॥ ६१ ॥

Transliteration

haripādodakasparśāllubdhako gatakalmaṣaḥ | divyaṃ vimānamāruhya munimetadathābravīt || 61 ||

Translation

ହରିଙ୍କ ପାଦ-ପ୍ରକ୍ଷାଳିତ ଜଳର ସ୍ପର୍ଶରେ ଶିକାରୀର ପାପକଲ୍ମଷ ନଶ୍ଟ ହେଲା। ପରେ ସେ ଦିବ୍ୟ ବିମାନରେ ଆରୋହଣ କରି ମୁନିଙ୍କୁ ଏହି କଥା କହିଲା।

Word by Word

• हरिपादोदकस्पर्शात्: from the touch of the water of Hari’s feet
• हरिपादोदकस्पर्शात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि + पाद + उदक + स्पर्श (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; समास: हरेः पाद-उदकस्य स्पर्शः (touch of the water of Hari’s feet)

• लुब्धकः: the hunter
• लुब्धकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लुब्धक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• गतकल्मषः: freed from sin
• गतकल्मषः: Karta-visheshana (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गत + कल्मष (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: गतं कल्मषं यस्य सः (whose sin has gone)

• दिव्यम्: divine
• दिव्यम्: Karma-visheshana (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifies विमानम्

• विमानम्: celestial chariot
• विमानम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विमान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आरुह्य: having mounted
• आरुह्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + रुह् (धातु) → आरुह्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund)

• मुनिम्: the sage
• मुनिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• एतत्: this (statement)
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; used as object of speech (quoted content)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Kriya-anubandha (क्रिया-अनुबन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक अव्यय (then/thereupon)

• अब्रवीत्: said/spoke
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

Narrator (Purana narrator describing the event; the hunter is about to speak to the sage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu)
• Hunter (Lubdhaka)
• Muni (Sage)
• Vimana (celestial chariot)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that contact with Hari’s pādodaka (Vishnu’s sacred foot-water/charanāmṛta) has purifying power, removing kalmaṣa (sin/impurity) and elevating even a hunter to a divine state.

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

Bhakti is shown as grace-centered: a simple act connected to Vishnu—touching what is sanctified by Him—can transform a person’s destiny, indicating that devotion and divine association outweigh social status or past faults.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual practice (kalpa-oriented conduct) is implied: honoring tīrtha-like sanctified water and understanding its purificatory role in ācamana/snāna traditions, though no specific Vedanga technicality is directly taught in this single verse.