Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 101

Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas and the Sin-destroying Power of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa

Devanagari script

परं मोक्षं लभेश्चैव पूजिते तु जनार्दने । धर्मार्थकामोक्षाख्याः पुरुषार्थाः सनातनाः ॥ १०१ ॥

Transliteration

paraṃ mokṣaṃ labheścaiva pūjite tu janārdane | dharmārthakāmokṣākhyāḥ puruṣārthāḥ sanātanāḥ || 101 ||

Translation

礼敬阇那尔达那（毗湿奴）之时，必得至上解脱（mokṣa）。并且人之永恒四义——法（Dharma）、利（Artha）、欲（Kāma）、解脱（Mokṣa）——皆得圆满。

Word by Word

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.)/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.)—here qualifying ‘मोक्षम्’ (m.), द्वितीया (Acc./2nd), एकवचन (sg.)

• मोक्षम्: liberation
• मोक्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया (Acc./2nd), एकवचन (sg.)

• लभेत्: would obtain/should obtain
• लभेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (sg.), आत्मनेपदम्; विध्यर्थः (one would/should obtain)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction), समुच्चय (and)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle), अवधारण (indeed/only)

• पूजिते: when (he) is worshipped
• पूजिते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु) → पूजित (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), सप्तमी विभक्ति (Loc./7th), एकवचन (sg.), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute): ‘(जनार्दने) पूजिते’ = ‘when Janardana is worshipped’

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थ (but/indeed)

• जनार्दने: in/with regard to Janardana
• जनार्दने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनार्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सप्तमी (Loc./7th), एकवचन (sg.)

• धर्म-अर्थ-काम-मोक्ष-आख्याः: named dharma, artha, kāma, and mokṣa
• धर्म-अर्थ-काम-मोक्ष-आख्याः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + काम (प्रातिपदिक) + मोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), बहुवचन (pl.); बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः: ‘धर्मार्थकाममोक्ष-इति आख्याः’ (called dharma, artha, kāma, mokṣa)

• पुरुषार्थाः: human goals
• पुरुषार्थाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुषार्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), बहुवचन (pl.); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘पुरुषस्य अर्थाः’

• सनातनाः: eternal
• सनातनाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सनातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), बहुवचन (pl.); विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘पुरुषार्थाः’)

Speaker

Sanatkumāra (teaching Nārada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Janārdana
• Viṣṇu

FAQs

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

It declares Viṣṇu (Janārdana) worship as the integrating source of all four puruṣārthas, culminating in paraṁ mokṣa—supreme liberation.

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

By stating that pūjā of Janārdana directly grants the highest goal, it frames devotion and worship as an effective, grace-centered means that also harmonizes worldly duties and aspirations.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is the discipline of proper worship (pūjā) aligned with dharma as a means to attain both prosperity and liberation.