Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 177

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

Devanagari script

पश्येति वांदिदेशे च दर्भाग्रं शस्त्रसन्निभम् । बलिर्ददौ महाविष्णोर्महीं त्रिपदसंमिताम् ॥ ७७ ॥

Transliteration

paśyeti vāṃdideśe ca darbhāgraṃ śastrasannibham | balirdadau mahāviṣṇormahīṃ tripadasaṃmitām || 77 ||

Translation

他喊道“看！”并指示那达尔婆草的尖端，锋利如兵刃。随后，巴利将大地奉与摩诃毗湿奴——由祂三步所量定。

Word by Word

• पश्य: see!
• पश्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (आज्ञार्थ/Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उक्तिसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• वाम्: to you two
• वाम्: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया/चतुर्थी-द्विवचन-रूपम् (युष्मद्); ‘you two’ (to/for you two)

• दिदेशे: he instructed / pointed out
• दिदेशे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दिश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• दर्भ-अग्रम्: the tip of darbha grass
• दर्भ-अग्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (दर्भस्य अग्रं)

• शस्त्र-सन्निभम्: like a weapon
• शस्त्र-सन्निभम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + सन्निभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (शस्त्रवत् सन्निभम्); विशेषणम्

• बलिः: Bali
• बलिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ददौ: gave
• ददौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• महाविष्णोः: to Mahāviṣṇu / of Mahāviṣṇu
• महाविष्णोः: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाविष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध/Genitive), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् विष्णुः)

• महीम्: the earth
• महीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• त्रि-पद-संमिताम्: measured by three steps
• त्रि-पद-संमिताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + पद (प्रातिपदिक) + संमित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (त्रिभिः पदैः संमिता); विशेषणम्

Speaker

Suta (narrating the Purana account; within the episode describing Bali’s donation to Vamana/Mahavishnu)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Mahavishnu
• Bali
• Darbha

FAQs

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

It highlights Bali’s surrender through dāna: even when confronted by Vishnu’s cosmic power (the three strides), Bali affirms dharma by honoring his gift, showing that true merit lies in steadfast truth and offering to the Supreme.

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

Bhakti here appears as humble submission—Bali recognizes Mahāviṣṇu’s supremacy and gives without retracting, turning an act of charity into devotion expressed as self-offering and trust in Vishnu’s will.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The mention of darbha points to ritual practice (kalpa/śrauta usage): darbha grass is employed as a purifying, sanctifying implement in yajña and dāna rites, indicating the formal Vedic context in which the gift is made.