Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 56

The Greatness of Viṣṇu

Viṣṇor Māhātmya

Devanagari script

तर्त्तुं यदीच्छति जनो दुस्तरं भवसागरम् । हरिभक्तिपरो भूयादेतदेव रसायनम् ॥ ५६ ॥

Transliteration

tarttuṃ yadīcchati jano dustaraṃ bhavasāgaram | haribhaktiparo bhūyādetadeva rasāyanam || 56 ||

Translation

దుర్తరమైన భవసాగరాన్ని దాటాలని ఎవడు కోరుతాడో, వాడు శ్రీహరి భక్తిలో పరాయణుడవ్వాలి; ఇదే నిజమైన రసాయనం.

Word by Word

• tartum: to cross
• tartum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/infinitive purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tṝ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), अव्ययभाव; 'to cross'

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तार्थक अव्यय (conditional conjunction)

• icchati: desires
• icchati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: iṣ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person) एकवचन (sg)

• janaḥ: a person
• janaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), प्रथमा (Nom) एकवचन (sg)

• dustaram: hard to cross
• dustaram: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dus-tara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Acc) एकवचन (sg); विशेषण

• bhava-sāgaram: the ocean of saṃsāra
• bhava-sāgaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhava (प्रातिपदिक) + sāgara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), द्वितीया (Acc) एकवचन (sg); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (ocean of worldly existence)

• hari-bhakti-paraḥ: devoted to Hari-bhakti
• hari-bhakti-paraḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक) + bhakti (प्रातिपदिक) + para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), प्रथमा (Nom) एकवचन (sg); तत्पुरुष (devotion-to-Hari as highest/intent)

• bhūyāt: should become
• bhūyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person) एकवचन (sg)

• etat: this
• etat: Visheshya (विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc) एकवचन (sg)

• eva: alone/indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधारण (emphasis)

• rasāyanam: the elixir/remedy
• rasāyanam: Vishaya (विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rasāyana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc) एकवचन (sg); विधेय (predicate noun)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the dialogue on dharma and liberation)

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 declares that liberation from saṁsāra is best attained through exclusive devotion to Hari, presented as the most potent spiritual “medicine” (rasāyana).

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

Bhakti is framed not as an optional aid but as the direct means to cross the “ocean” of worldly bondage—by becoming haribhakti-para, fully oriented toward Vishnu.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Śikṣā, Vyākaraṇa, or Jyotiṣa) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is sādhana-focused—cultivating steady Vishnu-bhakti as the effective remedy.