Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 52

Devanagari script

नमो रुद्राय भीमाय नीलकंठाय वेधसे । कपर्द्दिने सुरेशाय व्योमकेशाय वै नमः ॥ ५२ ॥

Transliteration

namo rudrāya bhīmāya nīlakaṃṭhāya vedhase | kaparddine sureśāya vyomakeśāya vai namaḥ || 52 ||

Translation

రుద్రుడికి, భీముడికి, నీలకంఠుడైన వేదస్కు నమస్కారం; జటాధారికి, దేవాధిపతికి, వ్యోమకేశుడికి—ఆకాశమే కేశములైనవాడికి—నమః।

Word by Word

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय) used as salutation (नमस्कारार्थक निपात)

• rudrāya: to Rudra
• rudrāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/चतुर्थी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• bhīmāya: to the Terrible One
• bhīmāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhīma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th), Singular

• nīlakaṇṭhāya: to the Blue-throated One
• nīlakaṇṭhāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nīla + kaṇṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th), Singular; karmadhāraya: nīlaḥ kaṇṭhaḥ yasya 'blue-throated'

• vedhase: to the Creator/Ordainer
• vedhase: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vedhas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th), Singular (vedhase)

• kapardine: to Kapardin (matted-haired)
• kapardine: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapardin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th), Singular (i-stem: kapardine)

• sureśāya: to the Lord of the gods
• sureśāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura + īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th), Singular; tatpuruṣa: sura-īśa 'lord of gods'

• vyomakeśāya: to Vyomakeśa (sky-haired)
• vyomakeśāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyoma + keśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th), Singular; tatpuruṣa: vyoma-keśa 'whose hair is the sky'/ 'sky-haired' (epithet)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle (निपात) for emphasis

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya, salutation particle

Speaker

Narada (in a hymn-like praise context within the Purva Bhaga narrative framework)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Shiva
• Nilakantha
• Suresha

FAQs

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

It is a concentrated Rudra-stuti that invokes Śiva through potent epithets—terrifying to ignorance, compassionate as Nīlakaṇṭha, and cosmic as Vyomakeśa—training the mind in reverent remembrance (smaraṇa) through name-and-form contemplation.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as nāma-stuti: repeated salutations (namaḥ) with specific divine names. The devotee approaches the Lord through His attributes, converting fear and awe (bhīma) into surrender and worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse mainly reflects mantra-style eulogy rather than a technical Vedāṅga lesson; practically, it models correct stotra composition—epithet sequencing and ritual salutation (namaḥ)—used in pūjā and japa traditions.