Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 9

The Greatness of Viṣṇu

Viṣṇor Māhātmya

Devanagari script

अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । वदतां शृण्वतां चैव सर्वपापप्रणाशनम् ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

atrāpyudāharantīmamitihāsaṃ purātanam | vadatāṃ śṛṇvatāṃ caiva sarvapāpapraṇāśanam || 9 ||

Translation

ଏଠାରେ ମଧ୍ୟ ସେମାନେ ଏହି ପୁରାତନ ପବିତ୍ର ଇତିହାସକୁ ଉଦାହରଣ ଭାବେ କହନ୍ତି; ଏହାକୁ ପଢ଼ୁଥିବା ଓ ଶୁଣୁଥିବା—ଦୁହେଁଙ୍କର—ସମସ୍ତ ପାପ ନାଶ ହୁଏ।

Word by Word

• atra: here
• atra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण; locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb: 'here')

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अपि-कारक अव्यय (also/even)

• udāharanti: they cite/relate
• udāharanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-ā-√hṛ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present indicative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्

• imam: this
• imam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (accusative), एकवचनम्

• itihāsam: story; historical account
• itihāsam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: itihāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• purātanam: ancient
• purātanam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: purātana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनम् (agreeing with itihāsam)

• vadatām: of those who speak/recite
• vadatām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vad (धातु) → vadat (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle) used substantively, पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (genitive), बहुवचनम्

• śṛṇvatām: of those who listen
• śṛṇvatām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु) → śṛṇvat (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle) used substantively, पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचनम्

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• sarva-pāpa-praṇāśanam: destroyer of all sins
• sarva-pāpa-praṇāśanam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण; predicate noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + pāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + praṇāśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (determinative: 'destruction of all sins'), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम् (predicate/apposition to itihāsam)

Speaker

Narrator (Suta-like Purana narrator voice within the Narada Purana tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

FAQs

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

It declares that sacred narration (itihāsa) is not merely informative but purifying: reciting and hearing it functions as a dharmic act that removes accumulated pāpa (sin/impurity) and prepares the mind for higher devotion and knowledge.

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

By praising speaking and listening to sacred history, it points to bhakti-sādhana through śravaṇa (hearing) and kīrtana (recitation)—core devotional practices that cleanse the heart and deepen remembrance of the Divine.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse mainly emphasizes practice rather than a specific Vedāṅga: disciplined oral transmission—clear recitation and attentive listening—supports correct chanting and comprehension, aligning broadly with śikṣā (phonetics) and vyākaraṇa (language/grammar) in preserving sacred texts.