Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 22

The Characteristics of Devotion to Hari

Devanagari script

सत्कथायां च रमते सत्कथां च करोति यः । सत्सङ्गो निरहङ्कारस्तस्य प्रीतो रमापतिः ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

satkathāyāṃ ca ramate satkathāṃ ca karoti yaḥ | satsaṅgo nirahaṅkārastasya prīto ramāpatiḥ || 22 ||

Translation

凡喜乐于圣善法语，又令圣善法语得以宣说者；常住圣众之会（satsaṅga），远离我慢者；罗摩之主 Ramāpati（毗湿奴，吉祥天女拉克希米之主）便悦纳于他。

Word by Word

• सत्कथायाम्: in holy discourse
• सत्कथायाम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्-कथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; समासः: सत् (उत्तमा/शुभा) कथा = सत्कथा (कर्मधारय)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• रमते: delights
• रमते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• सत्कथाम्: holy discourse
• सत्कथाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्-कथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• करोति: does / performs
• करोति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• सत्सङ्गः: company of the good
• सत्सङ्गः: Karta-viśeṣaṇa / Bhāva (भाव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्-सङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः: सतां सङ्गः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• निरहङ्कारः: free from ego
• निरहङ्कारः: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्-अहङ्कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; उपसर्गपूर्वक-समासः: अहङ्कारः यस्य नास्ति/निर्गतः (निर्-), विशेषणार्थ

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• प्रीतः: pleased
• प्रीतः: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रीत (प्रातिपदिक; प्री धातु-निष्पन्न कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कृदन्त (क्त)

• रमापतिः: Lord of Ramā (Lakṣmī)
• रमापतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रमा-पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः: रमायाः पतिः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Laksmi

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that devotion matures through three linked practices—loving sacred discourse (satkathā), promoting it for others, and living with humility in saintly company—by which Viṣṇu (Ramāpati) becomes pleased.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as hearing and sharing God-centered narratives and teachings (satkathā), supported by satsanga and freedom from ego; these are presented as direct causes for the Lord’s grace.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is dhārmic discipline—cultivating satsanga, humble speech, and regular recitation/listening of sacred narratives.