Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 47

Nārada’s Hymn to Viṣṇu

Nāradasya Viṣṇu-stavaḥ

Devanagari script

महिमानं तु यन्नाम्नः परं गन्तुं मुनीश्वराः । देवासुराश्च मनवः कथं तं क्षुल्लको भजे ॥ ४७ ॥

Transliteration

mahimānaṃ tu yannāmnaḥ paraṃ gantuṃ munīśvarāḥ | devāsurāśca manavaḥ kathaṃ taṃ kṣullako bhaje || 47 ||

Translation

Nếu ngay cả các bậc đại thánh hiền cũng không thể đạt đến sự vĩ đại tối thượng của Danh Thánh ấy—cả chư thiên, a-tu-la và các Manu cũng không—thì con, kẻ nhỏ bé, làm sao có thể thật sự phụng thờ?

Word by Word

• mahimānam: glory/greatness
• mahimānam: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahiman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: N/A
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• yannāmnaḥ: of whose name
• yannāmnaḥ: Sambandha (Relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yannāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• param: limit/end/far shore
• param: Karma (Goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• gantum: to go/reach
• gantum: N/A
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (Tumun)

• munīśvarāḥ: lords of sages
• munīśvarāḥ: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: munīśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• devāsurāḥ: gods and demons
• devāsurāḥ: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devāsura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• ca: and
• ca: N/A
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• manavaḥ: Manus (progenitors)
• manavaḥ: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• katham: how
• katham: N/A
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: Interrogative Adverb

• tam: Him
• tam: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• kṣullakaḥ: insignificant/small person
• kṣullakaḥ: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṣullaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• bhaje: I worship
• bhaje: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhaj (धातु)
• Form: Present Tense (Lat), First Person (Uttama), Singular

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Manus
• Devas
• Asuras
• Divine Name (Nāma)

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that the Divine Name is immeasurably vast—beyond the full grasp of even exalted beings—so the seeker should approach it with humility and reliance on grace rather than pride in personal capacity.

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

It frames bhakti as surrender: recognizing one’s limitation and still turning toward the Divine Name with reverence. This humility becomes the doorway to steady nāma-bhajana (devotional remembrance/chanting).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is sādhana-focused—cultivating humility (amānitva) to support consistent nāma-japa and devotional discipline.