Shloka 44

Śāpaprāpti (Receiving a Curse) — Mohinī Narrative

Devanagari script

अप्रमेयगुणं विष्णुं निर्मलं निर्मलाश्रयम् । हंसं शुचिपदं व्योम प्रणवं बीजमव्ययम् ॥ ४४ ॥

Transliteration

aprameyaguṇaṃ viṣṇuṃ nirmalaṃ nirmalāśrayam | haṃsaṃ śucipadaṃ vyoma praṇavaṃ bījamavyayam || 44 ||

Translation

ଅପ୍ରମେୟ ଗୁଣଯୁକ୍ତ, ନିର୍ମଳ ଓ ନିର୍ମଳମାନଙ୍କ ଆଶ୍ରୟ ଭଗବାନ ବିଷ୍ଣୁଙ୍କୁ ମୁଁ ନମସ୍କାର କରେ; ସେ ପରମହଂସ, ଶୁଚିପଦ, ସର୍ବବ୍ୟାପୀ ବ୍ୟୋମ, ପବିତ୍ର ପ୍ରଣବ ‘ଓଁ’, ଅବ୍ୟୟ ବୀଜ।

Word by Word

• अप्रमेयगुणम्: (him) of immeasurable qualities
• अप्रमेयगुणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अप्रमेय + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘अप्रमेयाः गुणाः यस्य’ इति बहुव्रीह्यर्थे प्रायः, परन्तु रूपेण समासः (गुण-विशेषण)

• विष्णुम्: Vishnu
• विष्णुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• निर्मलम्: pure, stainless
• निर्मलम्: Karma-anvaya (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्मल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of विष्णुम्

• निर्मलाश्रयम्: having pure refuge / the support of purity
• निर्मलाश्रयम्: Karma-anvaya (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्मल + आश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (निर्मलस्य आश्रयः)

• हंसम्: the Swan (supreme soul)
• हंसम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हंस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; epithet

• शुचिपदम्: pure abode/state
• शुचिपदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि + पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘शुचि’ (pure) qualifying ‘पद’ (state/abode/word)

• व्योम: sky, ether
• व्योम: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्योमन्/व्योम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (form ‘व्योम’); as epithet

• प्रणवम्: the praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्रणवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• बीजम्: seed, source
• बीजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बीज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अव्ययम्: imperishable
• अव्ययम्: Karma-anvaya (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of बीजम्/विष्णुम् (contextual epithet)

Speaker

Narada (as a hymn/praise within the discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Pranava (Om)
• Hamsa (Paramatman)

FAQs

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

It identifies Viṣṇu as both transcendent and immanent—beyond measure in qualities, yet present as the pure refuge, the all-pervading space, and the very essence of mantra as Oṃ—guiding the seeker toward purification and liberation.

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

Bhakti here is practiced through contemplative praise: remembering Viṣṇu’s limitless attributes, taking Him as the shelter of purity, and meditating on His mantra-form (Praṇava), which steadies the mind in single-pointed devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Mantra-centered practice is emphasized: understanding Praṇava (Oṃ) as a bīja (seed-syllable) aligns with Śikṣā (proper recitation) and Vyākaraṇa/Nirukta-style clarity of meaning, supporting disciplined japa and meditation.