Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 33

The Greatness of Viṣṇu

Viṣṇor Māhātmya

Devanagari script

शून्यं विष्णुगृहं दृष्ट्वा प्रविष्टश्च स्त्रिया सह । निशि रामोपभोगार्थं शयितं तत्र कामिना ॥ ३३ ॥

Transliteration

śūnyaṃ viṣṇugṛhaṃ dṛṣṭvā praviṣṭaśca striyā saha | niśi rāmopabhogārthaṃ śayitaṃ tatra kāminā || 33 ||

Translation

Nang makita niyang walang tao ang templo ni Viṣṇu, pumasok ang lalaking alipin ng pita kasama ang isang babae. Sa gabi, upang magpakasasa sa pita, siya’y nahiga roon.

Word by Word

• śūnyam: empty
• śūnyam: Karma/Object (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śūnya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• viṣṇu-gṛham: Vishnu’s temple/house
• viṣṇu-gṛham: Karma/Object (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu + gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘viṣṇoḥ gṛham’)

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• praviṣṭaḥ: entered
• praviṣṭaḥ: Karta/Subject (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√viś (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्तः—क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगे ‘entered’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध—connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• striyā: with a woman
• striyā: Sahakāraka/Instrumental (सह/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahārtha (सहार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-अव्यय (postposition meaning ‘with’)

• niśi: at night
• niśi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण—time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niśā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन (locative of time)

• rāma-upabhoga-artham: for (sexual) enjoyment (with Rāmā)
• rāma-upabhoga-artham: Prayojana/Purpose (प्रयोजन/अर्थ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma + upabhoga + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (षष्ठी/उपपद-भाव: ‘rāmasya upabhogaḥ’ + ‘tasya arthaḥ’ = ‘for enjoyment with/for the woman named Rāmā’)

• śayitam: lay down/slept
• śayitam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śī (धातु) / śayita (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्तः—क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भावे/कर्मणि—‘lying/slept’ (context: ‘there was lying/sleeping’)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण—place)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• kāminā: by the lustful man
• kāminā: Karta/Agent (कर्ता/तृतीया—कर्तृकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāmin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It highlights that a Viṣṇu-temple is a sacred space meant for worship; entering it with lustful intent and using it for sensual pleasure is a grave breach of dharma (a form of aparādha) that obstructs spiritual merit.

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

Bhakti requires reverence (śraddhā) and purity of intent; the verse contrasts devotion with kāma-driven behavior, implying that true Viṣṇu-bhakti is incompatible with treating the deity’s abode as a place for indulgence.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It implicitly points to dharma-śāstra style norms of śauca (ritual purity) and ācāra (proper conduct) connected with worship and sacred places, rather than a technical Vedāṅga like vyākaraṇa or jyotiṣa.