Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 32

Dharma-ākhyāna (Discourse on Dharma): Worthy Charity, Fruitless Gifts, and the Merit of Building Ponds

Devanagari script

आतिथ्यप्रयतो नित्यं वासुदेवार्चनेरतः । पराक्रमी गुणनिधिर्मैत्रः कारुणिकः सधीः ॥ ३३ ॥

Transliteration

ātithyaprayato nityaṃ vāsudevārcanerataḥ | parākramī guṇanidhirmaitraḥ kāruṇikaḥ sadhīḥ || 33 ||

Translation

他恒常勤于待客之礼，常住于对婆苏提婆（Vāsudeva）的礼拜；勇武无畏，德行如藏，性情和善，慈悲怜悯，并具正慧明达。

Word by Word

• ātithya-prayataḥ: devoted to hospitality
• ātithya-prayataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ātithya (प्रातिपदिक) + prayata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; prayata = ‘striving/attentive’ (ppp/adj); qualifies subject

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• vāsudeva-arcane-rataḥ: engaged in worship of Vāsudeva
• vāsudeva-arcane-rataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāsudeva (प्रातिपदिक) + arcana (प्रातिपदिक) + rata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; rata = devoted; locative sense expressed via compound ‘in worship’

• parākramī: valiant
• parākramī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parākrama-in (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; इन्-प्रत्यय (possessive)

• guṇa-nidhiḥ: treasury of virtues
• guṇa-nidhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + nidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; appositional epithet of subject

• maitraḥ: friendly
• maitraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: maitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; qualifies subject

• kāruṇikaḥ: compassionate
• kāruṇikaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāruṇika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; qualifies subject

• sa-dhīḥ: intelligent / wise-minded
• sa-dhīḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (प्रातिपदिक) + dhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘one who has intelligence’

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vasudeva
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It defines the inner and outer marks of a spiritually mature person: devotion to Vāsudeva expressed through worship, and dharmic character expressed through hospitality, compassion, friendliness, valor, and discernment.

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

Bhakti here is not only ritual worship (arcana) of Vāsudeva but also the transformation of character—virtues like kindness, maitri, and dayā become the lived proof of devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught in this verse; it emphasizes sadācāra and arcana—practical devotional conduct aligned with Purāṇic dharma.