Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 7

Hari-nāma Mahimā and Caraṇāmṛta: The Redemption of the Hunter Gulika

Uttaṅka Itihāsa

Devanagari script

अन्यश्रेयोविनाशार्थं येऽर्चयंति जनार्दनम् । सा पूजैव महाभाग पूजकानाशु हंति वै ॥ ७ ॥

Transliteration

anyaśreyovināśārthaṃ ye'rcayaṃti janārdanam | sā pūjaiva mahābhāga pūjakānāśu haṃti vai || 7 ||

Translation

Ang sinumang sumasamba kay Janārdana na may layuning wasakin ang kapakanan ng iba—O mapalad na dakila—ang pagsambang iyon mismo ang mabilis na wawasak sa sumasamba.

Word by Word

• अन्य-श्रेयः-विनाश-अर्थम्: for the purpose of destroying another’s welfare
• अन्य-श्रेयः-विनाश-अर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रेयस् (प्रातिपदिक) + विनाश (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; अर्थे—“(for the purpose of)”; (semantic: purpose)

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• अर्चयन्ति: worship
• अर्चयन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद; 3rd Person (प्रथम-पुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• जनार्दनम्: Janārdana (Vishnu)
• जनार्दनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनार्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• सा: that
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• पूजा: worship
• पूजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधारणार्थ (emphasis/only)

• महाभाग: O greatly fortunate one
• महाभाग: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाभाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—महान् भागः यस्य (honorific address)

• पूजकान्: the worshippers
• पूजकान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजक (प्रातिपदिक; from पूज् + ण्वुल्)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• आशु: quickly
• आशु: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आशु (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• हन्ति: kills/destroys
• हन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद; 3rd Person (प्रथम-पुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), खल्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ (indeed, surely)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Janardana

FAQs

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

It teaches that devotion is judged by intention: worship motivated by envy or harm becomes adharma and rebounds on the doer through karma.

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

Bhakti must be sattvic—rooted in goodwill and reverence. When worship is used as a tool to injure others, it ceases to be true devotion and instead becomes a cause of one’s own downfall.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual correctness alone is insufficient; the verse emphasizes dharmic intention (saṅkalpa) as essential for pūjā—an applied guideline for proper conduct in worship.