Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 55

Yajñamālī–Sumālī Upākhyāna: Merit-Transfer through Temple Plastering (Lepa) and the Redemption of a Sinner

Devanagari script

अतिशुद्धे कुले जातो गुणवान्वेदपारगः । सर्वसंपत्समोपेतो हरिभक्तिपरायणः ॥ ५४ ॥

Transliteration

atiśuddhe kule jāto guṇavānvedapāragaḥ | sarvasaṃpatsamopeto haribhaktiparāyaṇaḥ || 54 ||

Translation

అతిశుద్ధ వంశంలో జన్మించి, గుణవంతుడై వేదాలలో పారంగతుడయ్యాడు. సమస్త సంపదలతో కూడి, హరి-భక్తిలోనే పరాయణుడయ్యాడు.

Word by Word

• अतिशुद्धे: in a very pure (family)
• अतिशुद्धे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतिशुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक: अति + शुद्ध)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘कुले’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• कुले: in a family/lineage
• कुले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अधिकरण

• जातः: was born
• जातः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जन् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) ‘born’

• गुणवान्: virtuous
• गुणवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुणवत् (प्रातिपदिक; मतुप्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; मतुप् (possessive) ‘possessing virtues’

• वेदपारगः: knower/master of the Vedas
• वेदपारगः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेदपारग (प्रातिपदिक: वेद + पारग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘one who has gone to the far shore of the Vedas’

• सर्वसंपत्: all prosperity/wealth
• सर्वसंपत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वसंपद् (प्रातिपदिक: सर्व + संपद्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-बहुवचन-रूपेण समासपूर्वपद (compound member); समोपेतः इत्यस्य सहचर-सम्बन्धे

• समोपेतः: endowed with
• समोपेतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-उप-√इ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्तान्तः ‘endowed/possessed’

• हरिभक्ति: devotion to Hari
• हरिभक्ति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरिभक्ति (प्रातिपदिक: हरि + भक्ति)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन-रूपेण समासपूर्वपद (compound member)

• परायणः: fully devoted
• परायणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘devoted/wholly given’

Speaker

Narrative voice (Suta-style Purana narration; exact speaker not specified in the provided excerpt)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It presents the Narada Purana ideal: external excellence (good birth, prosperity, Vedic mastery) becomes spiritually meaningful only when crowned by single-pointed devotion to Hari.

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

Bhakti is shown as the highest orientation (parāyaṇa)—not merely an accessory to learning or wealth, but the devotee’s defining center, directed to Hari (Vishnu).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes Veda-pāragatā (mastery of the Vedas) as a practical foundation—study, recitation, and understanding—while implying that such learning should culminate in Vaishnava devotion rather than pride.