Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 81

Bhakti-Śraddhā-Ācāra-Māhātmya and the Commencement of the Mārkaṇḍeya Narrative

Devanagari script

रोमाञ्चितशरीरोऽसावानन्दाश्रुविलोचनः । ननाम दण्डवद्भूमौ देवदेव सनातनम् ॥ ८१ ॥

Transliteration

romāñcitaśarīro'sāvānandāśruvilocanaḥ | nanāma daṇḍavadbhūmau devadeva sanātanam || 81 ||

Translation

ତାଙ୍କ ଶରୀର ରୋମାଞ୍ଚିତ ହେଲା, ନୟନ ଆନନ୍ଦାଶ୍ରୁରେ ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ହେଲା; ଏବଂ ସେ ଭୂମିରେ ଦଣ୍ଡବତ୍ ପଡି ସନାତନ ଦେବଦେବଙ୍କୁ ପ୍ରଣାମ କଲେ।

Word by Word

• रोमाञ्चित-शरीरः: whose body had horripilation
• रोमाञ्चित-शरीरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रोमाञ्चित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + शरीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (रोमाञ्चितं शरीरं यस्य)

• असौ: he (that person)
• असौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• आनन्द-अश्रु-विलोचनः: whose eyes were filled with tears of joy
• आनन्द-अश्रु-विलोचनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आनन्द (प्रातिपदिक) + अश्रु (प्रातिपदिक) + विलोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—बहुव्रीहिः (आनन्दजनितैः अश्रुभिः विलोचने यस्य)

• ननाम: bowed down
• ननाम: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम

• दण्डवत्: prostrately
• दण्डवत्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दण्डवत् (अव्यय/उपमा)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: ‘like a staff’, prostrate)

• भूमौ: on the ground
• भूमौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• देव-देव: O God of gods
• देव-देव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (देवानां देवः)

• सनातनम्: the eternal one
• सनातनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (देवदेव इत्यस्य विशेष्य/विशेषणभावः सन्दर्भे)

Speaker

Narrator (Suta-style Purana narration; dialogue context within Narada Purana)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Sanatana (the eternal Lord)
• Deva-deva (Supreme God)

FAQs

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

It highlights classic marks of deep devotion—gooseflesh (romāñca), joyful tears (ānandāśru), and complete surrender through daṇḍavat-pranāma to the eternal Supreme Lord.

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

Bhakti is shown as heartfelt and embodied: inner love manifests outwardly, culminating in humble, total prostration before Deva-deva, expressing surrender and reverence rather than mere intellectual belief.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technical instruction is taught in this verse; instead, it emphasizes proper devotional conduct (ācāra) in worship—especially the ritual etiquette of daṇḍavat-namaskāra.