Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 22

The Greatness of Viṣṇu

Viṣṇor Māhātmya

Devanagari script

पुरोधसैवमुक्तस्तु प्रहसन्स जयध्वजः । विनयावनतो भूत्वा प्रोवाचेदं कृताञ्जलि ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

purodhasaivamuktastu prahasansa jayadhvajaḥ | vinayāvanato bhūtvā provācedaṃ kṛtāñjali || 22 ||

Translation

ପୁରୋହିତ ଏପରି କହିବାରେ ଜୟଧ୍ୱଜ ହସିଲେ; ପରେ ବିନୟରେ ନମି, କରଯୋଡ଼ି ଭକ୍ତିସହ ଏହି ବଚନ କହିଲେ।

Word by Word

• पुरोधसा: by the priest (purohita)
• पुरोधसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरोधस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; Instrumental singular (by/with the priest)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; manner adverb (प्रकारवाचक)

• उक्तः: having been addressed/said to
• उक्तः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; PPP ‘having been said/addressed’

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; particle (निपात)

• प्रहसन्: smiling
• प्रहसन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-हस् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘smiling/laughing’

• जयध्वजः: Jayadhvaja
• जयध्वजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जयध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Proper noun

• विनय-अवनतः: humbly bowed
• विनय-अवनतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विनय (प्रातिपदिक) + अवनत (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (विनयेन अवनतः); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘bowed with humility’

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having become’

• प्रोवाच: said
• प्रोवाच: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Parasmaipada; ‘said/spoke’

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; pronoun ‘this’

• कृत-अञ्जलिः: with folded hands
• कृत-अञ्जलिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृदन्त) + अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (कृतः अञ्जलिः यस्य सः); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘with joined palms’

Speaker

Narrator (Purana narrator describing Jayadhvaja’s response)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Jayadhvaja
• Purohita (royal priest)

FAQs

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

It highlights vinaya (humility) and reverence (kṛtāñjali) as dharmic foundations for receiving counsel and speaking truthfully—inner discipline preceding right action.

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

Though not a direct bhakti teaching, the posture of joined palms and humble bowing mirrors devotional etiquette (ācāra) that purifies the mind and makes one fit for higher instruction.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It chiefly reflects sadācāra and formal modes of address (prayoga) rather than a technical Vedanga; the emphasis is on correct conduct and respectful speech in instruction contexts.