Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

हरिरास्ते महाभाग हृदये शान्तचेतसाम् । हरिनामपराणां च किमु ध्यानरतात्मनाम् ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

harirāste mahābhāga hṛdaye śāntacetasām | harināmaparāṇāṃ ca kimu dhyānaratātmanām || 5 ||

Translation

噢，尊贵者，诃利安住于心境寂静之人的心中。若对专注于诃利圣名者尚且如此，那么对身心沉浸于禅观者，岂不更是如此？

Word by Word

• हरिः: Hari
• हरिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आस्ते: dwells/sits
• आस्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• महाभाग: O greatly fortunate one
• महाभाग: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाभाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (one who has great fortune)

• हृदये: in the heart
• हृदये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• शान्त-चेतसाम्: of the calm-minded
• शान्त-चेतसाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive qualifier of हृदये)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शान्त (कृदन्त, क्त) + चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (those whose minds are calm)

• हरि-नाम-पराणाम्: of those devoted to Hari’s name
• हरि-नाम-पराणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive; parallel qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक) + नामन् (प्रातिपदिक) + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (devoted to Hari’s name)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (and)

• किमु: how much more then
• किमु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphatic interrogative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् + उ (अव्ययसमूह)
• Form: प्रश्न/अधिक्यबोधक निपात (how much more?/what then)

• ध्यान-रत-आत्मनाम्: of those whose hearts are devoted to meditation
• ध्यान-रत-आत्मनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive; in ‘kimu’ construction)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक) + रत (कृदन्त, क्त) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि (whose selves are devoted to meditation)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (addressing Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu (Hari)

FAQs

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

It teaches that Vishnu (Hari) is directly realized as the indwelling Lord in a purified, tranquil mind—especially through devotion to His name and through steady meditation.

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

It elevates harināma-parāyaṇatā (exclusive dedication to Hari’s name) as a powerful form of bhakti that brings the devotee into intimate inner proximity with Hari, and then places dhyāna as an even deeper absorption.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

While not a technical Vedanga instruction, it implies disciplined practice of mantra/nāma-japa with correct utterance and steadiness—principles aligned with Śikṣā (phonetics) and Vyākaraṇa (proper form) for faithful recitation.