Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 34

Dhvaja-Dhāraṇa Mahātmyam: Sumati–Satyamatī, Humility, and Deliverance by Hari’s Messengers

Devanagari script

जीर्णं देवालयं विष्णोरपश्यं विजने वने । हंसकारण्डवाकीर्णं तत्समीपे महत्सरः ॥ ३४ ॥

Transliteration

jīrṇaṃ devālayaṃ viṣṇorapaśyaṃ vijane vane | haṃsakāraṇḍavākīrṇaṃ tatsamīpe mahatsaraḥ || 34 ||

Translation

Numa floresta solitária vi um templo de Viṣṇu, antigo e arruinado; e perto dele havia um grande lago, repleto de cisnes e aves kāraṇḍava.

Word by Word

• जीर्णम्: dilapidated
• जीर्णम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जॄ (धातु) → जीर्ण (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘worn out/old’ (devālayaṃ qualifies)

• देव-आलयम्: temple
• देव-आलयम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + आलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘temple (abode) of a deity’

• विष्णोः: of Vishnu
• विष्णोः: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• अपश्यम्: I saw
• अपश्यम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘I saw’

• विजने: in a lonely place
• विजने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे/पुंलिङ्गे (स्थानवाचक), सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ‘in a lonely place’

• वने: in the forest
• वने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• हंस-कारण्डव-आकीर्णम्: filled with swans and ducks
• हंस-कारण्डव-आकीर्णम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हंस (प्रातिपदिक) + कारण्डव (प्रातिपदिक) + आकीर्ण (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘filled with swans and ducks’ (sarāḥ qualifies)

• तत्-समीपे: near it
• तत्-समीपे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + समीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘near that (temple)’

• महत्: great
• महत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘great/large’ (sarāḥ qualifies)

• सरः: a lake
• सरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

The verse frames a sacred landscape—Viṣṇu’s temple and a nearby lake—showing that even when a shrine appears neglected, the place can remain spiritually charged, inviting renewal of devotion and reverence for tīrthas.

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

By highlighting Viṣṇu’s devālaya in a solitary forest, it emphasizes bhakti expressed through remembrance, pilgrimage, and temple-oriented worship (devālaya-darśana and sevā), not merely social display.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this line; the practical takeaway is tīrtha/temple discernment—recognizing sacred markers in a place (devālaya, saraḥ, auspicious water-birds) that often guide ritual bathing and worship in Purāṇic practice.