Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 33

The Greatness of Viṣṇu

Viṣṇor Māhātmya

Devanagari script

शून्यं विष्णुगृहं दृष्ट्वा प्रविष्टश्च स्त्रिया सह । निशि रामोपभोगार्थं शयितं तत्र कामिना ॥ ३३ ॥

Transliteration

śūnyaṃ viṣṇugṛhaṃ dṛṣṭvā praviṣṭaśca striyā saha | niśi rāmopabhogārthaṃ śayitaṃ tatra kāminā || 33 ||

Translation

ବିଷ୍ଣୁଙ୍କ ଗୃହ ଶୂନ୍ୟ ଦେଖି ସେ କାମୀ ଜଣେ ସ୍ତ୍ରୀ ସହ ଭିତରକୁ ପ୍ରବେଶ କଲା। ରାତିରେ ଭୋଗ ଉଦ୍ଦେଶ୍ୟରେ ସେଠାରେ ଶୋଇଲା।

Word by Word

• śūnyam: empty
• śūnyam: Karma/Object (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śūnya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• viṣṇu-gṛham: Vishnu’s temple/house
• viṣṇu-gṛham: Karma/Object (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu + gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘viṣṇoḥ gṛham’)

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• praviṣṭaḥ: entered
• praviṣṭaḥ: Karta/Subject (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√viś (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्तः—क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगे ‘entered’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध—connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• striyā: with a woman
• striyā: Sahakāraka/Instrumental (सह/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahārtha (सहार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-अव्यय (postposition meaning ‘with’)

• niśi: at night
• niśi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण—time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niśā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन (locative of time)

• rāma-upabhoga-artham: for (sexual) enjoyment (with Rāmā)
• rāma-upabhoga-artham: Prayojana/Purpose (प्रयोजन/अर्थ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma + upabhoga + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (षष्ठी/उपपद-भाव: ‘rāmasya upabhogaḥ’ + ‘tasya arthaḥ’ = ‘for enjoyment with/for the woman named Rāmā’)

• śayitam: lay down/slept
• śayitam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śī (धातु) / śayita (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्तः—क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भावे/कर्मणि—‘lying/slept’ (context: ‘there was lying/sleeping’)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण—place)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• kāminā: by the lustful man
• kāminā: Karta/Agent (कर्ता/तृतीया—कर्तृकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāmin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It highlights that a Viṣṇu-temple is a sacred space meant for worship; entering it with lustful intent and using it for sensual pleasure is a grave breach of dharma (a form of aparādha) that obstructs spiritual merit.

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

Bhakti requires reverence (śraddhā) and purity of intent; the verse contrasts devotion with kāma-driven behavior, implying that true Viṣṇu-bhakti is incompatible with treating the deity’s abode as a place for indulgence.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It implicitly points to dharma-śāstra style norms of śauca (ritual purity) and ācāra (proper conduct) connected with worship and sacred places, rather than a technical Vedāṅga like vyākaraṇa or jyotiṣa.