Shloka 40

सुमहच्चापि तत्‌ कर्म तन्नरेण कृत॑ पुरा । ततो गुणै: सुबहुभि: श्रेष्ठ नारायणो5भवत्‌,इस प्रकार पूर्वकालमें महात्मा नरने वह महान्‌ कर्म किया था। उनसे भी बहुत गुणोंके कारण भगवान्‌ नारायण श्रेष्ठ हैं

sumahac cāpi tat karma tan nareṇa kṛtaṃ purā | tato guṇaiḥ subahubhiḥ śreṣṭho nārāyaṇo 'bhavat ||

Esse feito, embora extraordinariamente grandioso, foi realizado outrora pelo sábio Nara. Contudo, por força de muitas excelências superiores, Nārāyaṇa mostrou-se o maior.

सुvery/well
सु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसु
महत्great
महत्:
TypeAdjective
Rootमहत्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
and/also
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
अपिeven/also
अपि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि
तत्that
तत्:
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
कर्मdeed/act
कर्म:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootकर्मन्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
तत्that (deed)
तत्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
नरेणby Nara
नरेण:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootनर
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
कृतम्done/performed
कृतम्:
TypeVerb
Rootकृ
Formक्त (past passive participle), Neuter, Nominative, Singular
पुराformerly/once
पुरा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपुरा
ततःthereafter/therefrom
ततः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootततः
गुणैःby virtues/qualities
गुणैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootगुण
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
सुvery
सु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसु
बहुभिःmany
बहुभिः:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootबहु
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
श्रेष्ठःbest/supreme
श्रेष्ठः:
TypeAdjective
Rootश्रेष्ठ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
नारायणःNārāyaṇa
नारायणः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootनारायण
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
अभवत्became/was
अभवत्:
TypeVerb
Rootभू
FormImperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

राम उवाच

N
Nara
N
Nārāyaṇa
R
Rāma (speaker)

Educational Q&A

Great deeds deserve honor, yet true superiority is measured by enduring virtues (guṇas). The verse highlights an ethical hierarchy: action is important, but the fullness of excellence—wisdom, restraint, compassion, and divine steadiness—makes Nārāyaṇa pre-eminent.

Rāma recalls an ancient account in which Nara accomplished a remarkable feat. He then draws a comparison, concluding that Nārāyaṇa surpasses even that greatness because of his many superior qualities, reinforcing Nārāyaṇa’s exceptional status.