Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 5

Nārada’s Hymn to Viṣṇu

Nāradasya Viṣṇu-stavaḥ

Devanagari script

विष्णुभक्ता महात्मानो ब्रह्मध्यानपरायणाः । सहस्रसूर्यसंकाशाः सत्यसन्धा मुमुक्षवः ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

viṣṇubhaktā mahātmāno brahmadhyānaparāyaṇāḥ | sahasrasūryasaṃkāśāḥ satyasandhā mumukṣavaḥ || 5 ||

Translation

他们是大士，皆为毗湿奴（Viṣṇu）的奉爱者，专注于对梵（Brahman）的禅观；光辉如千日齐照，守持真实誓愿，志求解脱。

Word by Word

• viṣṇu-bhaktāḥ: devotees of Viṣṇu
• viṣṇu-bhaktāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + bhakta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• mahātmānaḥ: great-souled ones
• mahātmānaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• brahma-dhyāna-parāyaṇāḥ: devoted to meditation on Brahman
• brahma-dhyāna-parāyaṇāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + dhyāna (प्रातिपदिक) + parāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); adjective of the subject group

• sahasra-sūrya-saṃkāśāḥ: radiant like a thousand suns
• sahasra-sūrya-saṃkāśāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sahasra (प्रातिपदिक) + sūrya (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃkāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• satya-sandhāḥ: true to their vows/true in resolve
• satya-sandhāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक) + sandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• mumukṣavaḥ: seekers of liberation
• mumukṣavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mumukṣu (प्रातिपदिक; desiderative-noun from √muc)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Brahman

FAQs

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

It defines the inner marks of a realized aspirant: devotion to Viṣṇu, steady Brahman-meditation, truthfulness, and a direct orientation toward mokṣa—suggesting that bhakti and jñāna converge in purified character.

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

Bhakti is shown not as mere emotion but as a transformative commitment: the devotee of Viṣṇu becomes steadfast in satya, luminous in conduct, and naturally directed toward liberation while remaining absorbed in higher contemplation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is ethical discipline (satya-sandha) as a prerequisite that supports mantra, japa, and dhyāna practices found across Vedic and Purāṇic sādhanā.