Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 21

Mokṣopāya: Bhakti-rooted Jñāna and the Aṣṭāṅga Yoga of Viṣṇu-Meditation

Devanagari script

संपूज्य यस्य पादाब्जं देहिनोऽपि मुनीश्वर । अमृतत्वं भजंत्याशु तं विदुः पुरुषोत्तमम् ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

saṃpūjya yasya pādābjaṃ dehino'pi munīśvara | amṛtatvaṃ bhajaṃtyāśu taṃ viduḥ puruṣottamam || 21 ||

Translation

噢，牟尼之主啊，即使具身众生，若如法礼敬祂的莲花足，也会迅速得不死；人们知祂为普鲁绍塔玛（Puruṣottama），至上之人。

Word by Word

• संपूज्य: having duly worshipped
• संपूज्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + पूज् (धातु) → संपूज्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive) — ‘having worshipped well’

• यस्य: whose
• यस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध — ‘whose’

• पादाब्जम्: lotus-feet (lit. foot-lotus)
• पादाब्जम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद + अब्ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म (object of संपूज्य)

• देहिनः: embodied beings
• देहिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देहिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; कर्ता — ‘embodied beings’

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अप्यर्थक अव्यय (even/also)

• मुनीश्वर: O lord of sages
• मुनीश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; संबोधन

• अमृतत्वम्: immortality
• अमृतत्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमृतत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म (object of भजन्ति)

• भजन्ति: attain/partake
• भजन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• आशु: quickly
• आशु: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आशु (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म (object of विदुः)

• विदुः: they know/recognize
• विदुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• पुरुषोत्तमम्: the Supreme Person
• पुरुषोत्तमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेष्य (appositive) to तम्

Speaker

Sanatkumara (addressing Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Puruṣottama (Vishnu)

FAQs

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

It declares that sincere worship of the Lord’s lotus-feet is a direct means to amṛtatva (deathlessness), identifying Vishnu as Puruṣottama—the highest refuge beyond embodied limitation.

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

Bhakti is presented as pāda-sevā (reverent worship of the Lord’s feet), powerful enough that even those still living in a body can quickly reach the immortal state through wholehearted devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes ritual devotion (upacāra-pūjā) rather than a specific Vedāṅga; practically, it points to correct pūjā-vidhi—disciplined worship as a daily sādhanā supporting mokṣa-dharma.