Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 1

Bhakti-Śraddhā-Ācāra-Māhātmya and the Commencement of the Mārkaṇḍeya Narrative

Devanagari script

सनक उवाच । श्रद्धापूर्वाः सर्वधर्मा मनोरथफलप्रदाः । श्रद्धयासाध्यते सर्वं श्रद्धया तुष्यते हरिः ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

sanaka uvāca | śraddhāpūrvāḥ sarvadharmā manorathaphalapradāḥ | śraddhayāsādhyate sarvaṃ śraddhayā tuṣyate hariḥ || 1 ||

Translation

Sinabi ni Sanaka: Ang lahat ng anyo ng dharma ay nakaugat sa śraddhā (pananampalataya) at nagbibigay ng bunga ayon sa minimithi. Sa pamamagitan ng śraddhā natatamo ang lahat, at sa pamamagitan ng śraddhā nalulugod si Hari.

Word by Word

• sanakaḥ: Sanaka
• sanakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sanaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• śraddhā-pūrvāḥ: preceded by faith
• śraddhā-pūrvāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śraddhā + pūrva (प्रातिपदिक + प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; तत्पुरुष: 'having faith as the foremost/preceding' qualifying 'sarvadharmāḥ'

• sarva-dharmāḥ: all duties/virtues
• sarva-dharmāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva + dharma (प्रातिपदिक + प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; 'all dharmas' (collective subject)

• manoratha-phala-pradāḥ: granting the fruits of wishes
• manoratha-phala-pradāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: manoratha + phala + prada (प्रातिपदिक-समूह)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; determinative: 'granting the fruits of desires' qualifying 'sarvadharmāḥ'

• śraddhayā: by faith
• śraddhayā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śraddhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• sādhyate: is accomplished
• sādhyate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sādh (साध् धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Passive voice (कर्मणि), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• sarvam: everything
• sarvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; passive subject

• śraddhayā: by faith
• śraddhayā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śraddhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• tuṣyate: is pleased
• tuṣyate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tuṣ (तुष् धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Passive/Ātmanepada usage, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• hariḥ: Hari (Vishnu)
• hariḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

Speaker

Sanaka

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

Secondary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Characters & Entities

• Sanaka
• Hari
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It establishes śraddhā (faithful trust and inner assent) as the indispensable starting point of all dharma and spiritual practice, and as the direct means by which Hari (Vishnu) becomes pleased.

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

Bhakti is shown to be powered by śraddhā: when actions, vows, and worship are performed with sincere faith, they become effective and culminate in Hari’s satisfaction—making devotion fruitful rather than merely ritualistic.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught here; the practical takeaway is the prerequisite mindset for all Vedic rites and disciplines—śraddhā—without which ritual performance and study do not yield their intended results.