Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 40

Nārada’s Hymn to Viṣṇu

Nāradasya Viṣṇu-stavaḥ

Devanagari script

लब्ध्वा वैरोचनेर्भूमिं द्वाभ्यां पद्भ्यामतीत्य यः । आब्रह्मभुवनं प्रादात् सुरेभ्यस्तं नतोऽजितम् ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

labdhvā vairocanerbhūmiṃ dvābhyāṃ padbhyāmatītya yaḥ | ābrahmabhuvanaṃ prādāt surebhyastaṃ nato'jitam || 40 ||

Translation

祂得受维罗遮那之子巴利所许之地，以两步便超越其量，继而将诸界直至梵天之界赐予诸天。我顶礼于阿吉达——不可战胜的主。

Word by Word

• labdhvā: having obtained
• labdhvā: Purvakalika Kriya (Prior Action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: labh (धातु)
• Form: Ktva Gerund (Absolutive).

• vairocaneḥ: from Bali (son of Virochana)
• vairocaneḥ: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vairocani (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular. (Son of Virochana = Bali).

• bhūmim: the earth / land
• bhūmim: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūmi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• dvābhyām: with two
• dvābhyām: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Dual

• padbhyām: feet / steps
• padbhyām: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Dual. (Irregular declension of pad/pāda).

• atītya: having surpassed / covered
• atītya: Purvakalika Kriya (Prior Action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ati + i (धातु)
• Form: Lyap Gerund (Absolutive).

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• ābrahmabhuvanam: up to the world of Brahma
• ābrahmabhuvanam: Kriya-Visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ābrahmabhuvana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial Compound. Lit: Up to the realm of Brahma.

• prādāt: gave
• prādāt: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + dā (धातु)
• Form: Aorist Tense (Lung/लुङ्), 3rd Person (Prathama), Singular

• surebhyaḥ: to the gods
• surebhyaḥ: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Plural

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

• nataḥ: bowed
• nataḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nam (धातु) -> nata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past Passive Participle, Masculine, Nominative, Singular. (Implied 'asmi' - I am bowed).

• ajitam: the Unconquered One
• ajitam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ajita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular. (Nañ Tatpurusha: Not conquered).

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Vamana
• Trivikrama
• Bali
• Virocana
• Brahma
• Devas

FAQs

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

It frames Viṣṇu (Ajita) as the supreme restorer of cosmic order: by accepting a humble gift and then revealing His boundless form, He protects dharma and returns rightful sovereignty to the Devas.

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

Bhakti is shown as reverent surrender—‘nato’ (I bow)—to Ajita, remembering His līlā as Vāmana/Trivikrama, where divine grace turns an ordinary act (a gift of land) into liberation-oriented recognition of God’s supremacy.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse primarily serves stotra and itihāsa-purāṇa remembrance rather than a Vedāṅga lesson; practically, it models correct devotional recitation (stuti) and the use of epithets (like Ajita) for precise liturgical praise.