Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 116

Vāmana’s Advent, Aditi’s Hymn, Bali’s Gift, and the Mahatmya of Bhū-dāna

Devanagari script

तन्निशम्य बलिं प्राह विष्णुः सर्वशरीरभृत् । आसन्नभ्रष्टराज्यस्य वैराग्यं जनयन्निवा ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

tanniśamya baliṃ prāha viṣṇuḥ sarvaśarīrabhṛt | āsannabhraṣṭarājyasya vairāgyaṃ janayannivā || 16 ||

Translation

Ao ouvir isso, Viṣṇu—o Sustentador que ampara todos os seres corporificados—falou a Bali, como se nele despertasse o vairāgya, pois seu reino estava prestes a se perder.

Word by Word

• tat: that (matter/statement)
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• niśamya: having heard
• niśamya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√śam (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकाल (having heard)

• balim: Bali
• balim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• prāha: said/spoke
• prāha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ah (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• viṣṇuḥ: Vishnu
• viṣṇuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• sarva-śarīra-bhṛt: bearer/supporter of all bodies
• sarva-śarīra-bhṛt: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + śarīra (प्रातिपदिक) + bhṛt (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √bhṛ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (sarveṣāṃ śarīrāṇāṃ bhartā = bearer of all bodies)

• āsanna-bhraṣṭa-rājyasya: of (him) whose kingdom was about to be lost
• āsanna-bhraṣṭa-rājyasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āsanna (प्रातिपदिक) + bhraṣṭa (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √bhraṃś) + rājya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (rājya), षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-समाससमूहः (āsannaṃ bhraṣṭaṃ rājyaṃ yasya = whose kingdom is about to be lost)

• vairāgyam: dispassion/detachment
• vairāgyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vairāgya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• janayan: producing/causing
• janayan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jan (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (वर्तमान कृदन्त/active present participle), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; परस्मैपदी

• iva: as if
• iva: Upamā (उपमा/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator describing Viṣṇu’s action)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Bali

FAQs

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

It shows Viṣṇu guiding a devotee (Bali) not merely through events, but through inner transformation—turning impending worldly loss into vairāgya, a key doorway to mokṣa.

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

Bhakti here is portrayed as Viṣṇu’s compassionate governance of the devotee’s life: He speaks in a way that loosens attachment to power and possession, deepening surrender and God-centeredness.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught directly in this verse; the practical takeaway is dharma-oriented discernment—recognizing impermanence of royal fortune and cultivating vairāgya as a disciplined spiritual practice.