Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 51

Devapūjā-krama: Ārghya-saṃskāra, Maṇḍala–Nyāsa, Mudrā-pradarśana, Āvaraṇa-arcana, Homa, Japa, and Kṣamāpaṇa

Devanagari script

स्नेहं गृहाण स्नेहेन लोकनाथ महाशय । सर्वलोकेषु शुद्धात्मन्ददामि स्नेहमुत्तमम् ॥ ५१ ॥

Transliteration

snehaṃ gṛhāṇa snehena lokanātha mahāśaya | sarvalokeṣu śuddhātmandadāmi snehamuttamam || 51 ||

Translation

ஏ லோகநாதா, மகாசயா! அன்பை அன்பினாலே ஏற்றருள்வாயாக. ஏ தூய ஆத்மனே! எல்லா உலகங்களிலும் உமக்கு உத்தமமான பிரேமையை நான் அர்ப்பணிக்கிறேன்.

Word by Word

• sneham: affection / love
• sneham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sneha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• gṛhāṇa: accept
• gṛhāṇa: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: grah (ग्रह् धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

• snehena: with affection
• snehena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sneha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• lokanātha: O lord of the worlds
• lokanātha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka + nātha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: lokānāṃ nāthaḥ = ‘lord of the worlds’

• mahāśaya: O noble-hearted one
• mahāśaya: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + āśaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय: mahān āśayaḥ = ‘great-hearted/noble-minded’

• sarvalokeṣu: in all worlds
• sarvalokeṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva + loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन); ‘in all worlds’

• śuddhātman: O pure-souled one
• śuddhātman: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śuddha + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय: śuddhaḥ ātmā yasya/yaḥ = ‘pure-souled’

• dadāmi: I give
• dadāmi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (दा धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• sneham: affection
• sneham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sneha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• uttamam: excellent/supreme
• uttamam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with sneham

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that the highest offering is sincere affection (sneha/prema) to the Lord, and that devotion is meant to be heartfelt and pure rather than merely formal.

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

Bhakti is shown as a living relationship: one approaches the Lord with love and asks that love be received—highlighting reciprocity, inner feeling (bhāva), and purity of heart (śuddhātman).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

While not a technical Vedanga rule, it underscores the practical principle that correct ritual or recitation gains spiritual force through proper intention and devotional sentiment (bhāva) behind the act.