Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 15

The Greatness of Viṣṇu

Viṣṇor Māhātmya

Devanagari script

वीतिहोत्र इति ख्यातो ह्यासीत्तस्य पुरोहितः । जयध्वजस्य चरितं दृष्ट्वा विस्मयमागतः ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

vītihotra iti khyāto hyāsīttasya purohitaḥ | jayadhvajasya caritaṃ dṛṣṭvā vismayamāgataḥ || 15 ||

Translation

అతని పురోహితుడు ‘వీతిహోత్ర’ అనే పేరుతో ప్రసిద్ధుడు; జయధ్వజుని చరిత్రను చూసి అతడు ఆశ్చర్యానికి లోనయ్యాడు।

Word by Word

• वीतिहोत्रः: Vītihotra
• वीतिहोत्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीतिहोत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम (proper noun)

• इति: thus, by the name
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/इत्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• ख्यातः: known, famed
• ख्यातः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ख्या (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृत् (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘renowned/known’

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/causal nuance)

• आसीत्: was
• आसीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तस्य: of him, his
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• पुरोहितः: priest, chaplain
• पुरोहितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरोहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• जयध्वजस्य: of Jayadhvaja
• जयध्वजस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जयध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम

• चरितम्: deed, conduct, story
• चरितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरित (प्रातिपदिक; चर् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मपद

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive): having seen

• विस्मयम्: astonishment
• विस्मयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विस्मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आगतः: came to, attained
• आगतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-गम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृत्, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि: ‘having come/attained’ (predicative with implied ‘अभवत्’)

Speaker

Narada (narrative voice, recounting the episode)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vītihotra
• Jayadhvaja

FAQs

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

It highlights how even a learned purohita—an authority in Vedic rites and dharma—can be moved to awe by extraordinary righteous conduct, implying that lived dharma can surpass mere formal learning.

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

Though Bhakti is not named directly here, the verse sets a narrative tone: exemplary deeds that align with dharma often arise from inner devotion and reverence, inspiring even religious experts to recognize spiritual greatness.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The mention of a purohita points to applied Vedanga expertise—especially Kalpa (ritual procedure) and Vyakarana (correct recitation/usage)—since a royal priest preserves dharmic order through rites, counsel, and scriptural correctness.