Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 35

The Greatness of Viṣṇu

Uttaṅka’s Hymn, Hari’s Manifestation, and the Boon of Bhakti

Devanagari script

कालात्मकं कालविभागहेतुं गुणत्रयातीतमहं गुणज्ञम् । गुणप्रियं कामदमस्तसङ्गमतीन्द्रि यं विश्वभुजं वितृष्णम् ॥ ३५ ॥

Transliteration

kālātmakaṃ kālavibhāgahetuṃ guṇatrayātītamahaṃ guṇajñam | guṇapriyaṃ kāmadamastasaṅgamatīndri yaṃ viśvabhujaṃ vitṛṣṇam || 35 ||

Translation

ข้าพเจ้าภาวนาถึงพระองค์—ผู้เป็นสภาวะแห่งกาล และเป็นเหตุแห่งการแบ่งกาล; ผู้เหนือไตรคุณแต่ทรงรู้คุณทั้งปวง; ผู้ทรงโปรดคุณธรรม ประทานความปรารถนาที่ชอบธรรม; ผู้ไร้ความยึดติด เกินพ้นอินทรีย์; ผู้ทรงค้ำจุนและเสวยโลกทั้งสิ้น และปราศจากตัณหาโดยสิ้นเชิง।

Word by Word

• कालात्मकम्: time-embodied
• कालात्मकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काल-आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्; तत्पुरुष-समासः (कालः आत्मा/स्वरूपं यस्य)

• कालविभागहेतुम्: cause of the divisions of time
• कालविभागहेतुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काल-विभाग-हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्; तत्पुरुष-समासः (कालस्य विभागस्य हेतुः)

• गुणत्रयातीतम्: beyond the three guṇas
• गुणत्रयातीतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुण-त्रय-अतीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्; तत्पुरुष-समासः (गुणत्रयम् अतीतः)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• गुणज्ञम्: knower of the guṇas
• गुणज्ञम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुण-ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्; तत्पुरुष-समासः (गुणान् जानाति इति)

• गुणप्रियम्: fond of virtues/guṇas
• गुणप्रियम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुण-प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्; तत्पुरुष-समासः (गुणाः प्रियाः यस्य / गुणेषु प्रियः)

• कामदम्: giver of desires (boons)
• कामदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम-द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्; तत्पुरुष-समासः (कामान् ददाति इति)

• अस्तसङ्गम्: free from attachment
• अस्तसङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अस्त-सङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्; बहुव्रीहि-समासः (अस्तः/नष्टः सङ्गः यस्य)

• अतीन्द्रियम्: beyond the senses
• अतीन्द्रियम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति-इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्; तत्पुरुष-समासः (इन्द्रियाणि अतिक्रान्तः)

• विश्वभुजम्: protector/enjoyer of the universe
• विश्वभुजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विश्व-भुज् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्; तत्पुरुष-समासः (विश्वं भुनक्ति/पालयति इति)

• वितृष्णम्: desireless
• वितृष्णम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-तृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्; 'तृष्णारहितः'

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It presents Vishnu as the supreme reality who governs Time yet remains beyond material nature (the three guṇas), guiding the seeker toward liberation through detachment and cravinglessness.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as contemplative praise (stuti) of Vishnu’s attributes—atīndriya, gunātīta, astasaṅga—so devotion becomes a means to purify desire and anchor the mind in the transcendent Lord.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse points to the concept of kāla-vibhāga (divisions of time), which connects to Jyotiṣa Vedāṅga—time-reckoning for auspicious timings and ritual calendars—while emphasizing that the Lord is the ultimate basis of such measures.