Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 47

The Characteristics of Devotion to Hari

Devanagari script

यन्नामोच्चारणादेव महापातकनाशनम् । यं समभ्यर्च्य विप्रर्षे मोक्षभागी भवेन्नरः ॥ ४७ ॥

Transliteration

yannāmoccāraṇādeva mahāpātakanāśanam | yaṃ samabhyarcya viprarṣe mokṣabhāgī bhavennaraḥ || 47 ||

Translation

噢，最胜的婆罗门圣贤！仅仅称诵祂的圣名，最重的罪业亦得摧灭；礼敬供奉祂者，便能分得解脱（mokṣa）之分。

Word by Word

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; relative pronoun (correlative)

• नाम: name
• नाम: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; 'name'

• उच्चारणात्: from (the) utterance
• उच्चारणात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उच्चारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; 'from/through utterance'

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)

• महापातकनाशनम्: destroyer of great sins
• महापातकनाशनम्: Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महापातक + नाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'महापातकस्य नाशनम्' (destroyer of great sins)

• यम्: whom
• यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; relative pronoun

• समभ्यर्च्य: having worshipped
• समभ्यर्च्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-अभि-अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त्वा/ल्यप् absolutive), 'having worshipped'

• विप्रर्षे: O brahmin-sage
• विप्रर्षे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; कर्मधारय: 'विप्रश्चासौ ऋषिश्च' (O brahmin-sage)

• मोक्षभागी: a sharer in liberation
• मोक्षभागी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मोक्ष + भागिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'मोक्षस्य भागी' (partaker of liberation)

• भवेत्: would become
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

Speaker

Sanatkumara (addressing Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It asserts the purifying power of the Lord’s Name (nāmoccāraṇa) and the liberating fruit of worship: even grave karmic defilements (mahāpātaka) are destroyed, and the devotee becomes eligible for mokṣa.

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

Bhakti is presented through two core practices—chanting the Name and reverential worship (pūjā/arcana). The verse links these directly to inner purification and the highest goal, mokṣa, showing devotion as both means and end.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes correct recitation (uccāraṇa), aligning with Śikṣā (phonetics) and Vyākaraṇa (proper word-form/usage) as supportive disciplines for effective mantra-like name-chanting and ritual worship.