Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 195

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

Devanagari script

सर्वभूतात्मको विष्णुर्वामनत्वमुपागतः । मोहयन्निखिलं लोकं प्रपेदे तपसे वनम् ॥ ९५ ॥

Transliteration

sarvabhūtātmako viṣṇurvāmanatvamupāgataḥ | mohayannikhilaṃ lokaṃ prapede tapase vanam || 95 ||

Translation

毗湿奴——一切众生之自性——示现为婆摩那；并迷惑遍世诸界，入于林野修行苦行（tapas）。

Word by Word

• सर्वभूतात्मकः: whose self is all beings; all-pervading
• सर्वभूतात्मकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + क (प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (सर्वेषां भूतानाम् आत्मा यस्य सः = whose self is all beings / the self of all beings)

• विष्णुः: Vishnu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• वामनत्वम्: Vāmana-hood (dwarf-form)
• वामनत्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वामनत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• उपागतः: attained
• उपागतः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + गम् (धातु) → उपागत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past participle) क्रियार्थे: ‘has attained/approached’

• मोहयन्: deluding
• मोहयन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुह् (धातु) → मोहयत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle): ‘deluding’

• निखिलम्: entire
• निखिलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निखिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण—‘entire’

• लोकम्: world
• लोकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• प्रपेदे: went forth; resorted to
• प्रपेदे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + पद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• तपसे: for austerity
• तपसे: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थ दत्तिविभक्ति (for the purpose of austerity)

• वनम्: forest
• वनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Purva-bhaga narrative frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Vamana

FAQs

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

It presents Viṣṇu as the inner Self of all beings who freely assumes an avatāra-form; the verse emphasizes that divine māyā can veil worldly understanding while the Lord establishes dharma through tapas and purposeful action.

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

By identifying Viṣṇu as the universal Self (sarvabhūtātmaka), it grounds bhakti in a personal relationship with the all-pervading Lord; devotion matures when the devotee trusts the Lord’s inscrutable līlā—even when the world is “bewildered.”

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is dharma-sādhanā through tapas (discipline), a foundational practice that supports Vedic study and ritual by cultivating steadiness and self-control.