Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 116

Vāmana’s Advent, Aditi’s Hymn, Bali’s Gift, and the Mahatmya of Bhū-dāna

Devanagari script

तन्निशम्य बलिं प्राह विष्णुः सर्वशरीरभृत् । आसन्नभ्रष्टराज्यस्य वैराग्यं जनयन्निवा ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

tanniśamya baliṃ prāha viṣṇuḥ sarvaśarīrabhṛt | āsannabhraṣṭarājyasya vairāgyaṃ janayannivā || 16 ||

Translation

یہ سن کر تمام جسم داروں کے پالنے والے شری وشنو نے بلی سے کہا، گویا جس کی سلطنت چھننے والی تھی اس کے دل میں ویراغ جگا رہے ہوں۔

Word by Word

• tat: that (matter/statement)
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• niśamya: having heard
• niśamya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√śam (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकाल (having heard)

• balim: Bali
• balim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• prāha: said/spoke
• prāha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ah (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• viṣṇuḥ: Vishnu
• viṣṇuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• sarva-śarīra-bhṛt: bearer/supporter of all bodies
• sarva-śarīra-bhṛt: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + śarīra (प्रातिपदिक) + bhṛt (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √bhṛ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (sarveṣāṃ śarīrāṇāṃ bhartā = bearer of all bodies)

• āsanna-bhraṣṭa-rājyasya: of (him) whose kingdom was about to be lost
• āsanna-bhraṣṭa-rājyasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āsanna (प्रातिपदिक) + bhraṣṭa (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √bhraṃś) + rājya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (rājya), षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-समाससमूहः (āsannaṃ bhraṣṭaṃ rājyaṃ yasya = whose kingdom is about to be lost)

• vairāgyam: dispassion/detachment
• vairāgyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vairāgya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• janayan: producing/causing
• janayan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jan (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (वर्तमान कृदन्त/active present participle), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; परस्मैपदी

• iva: as if
• iva: Upamā (उपमा/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator describing Viṣṇu’s action)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Bali

FAQs

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

It shows Viṣṇu guiding a devotee (Bali) not merely through events, but through inner transformation—turning impending worldly loss into vairāgya, a key doorway to mokṣa.

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

Bhakti here is portrayed as Viṣṇu’s compassionate governance of the devotee’s life: He speaks in a way that loosens attachment to power and possession, deepening surrender and God-centeredness.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught directly in this verse; the practical takeaway is dharma-oriented discernment—recognizing impermanence of royal fortune and cultivating vairāgya as a disciplined spiritual practice.