Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 71

The Characteristics of Devotion to Hari

Devanagari script

न नमेद्विष्णवे यस्य शरीरं कर्मभेदिने । पापानामाकरं तद्वै विज्ञेयं मुनिसत्तम ॥ ७१ ॥

Transliteration

na namedviṣṇave yasya śarīraṃ karmabhedine | pāpānāmākaraṃ tadvai vijñeyaṃ munisattama || 71 ||

Translation

凡不向毗湿奴顶礼者——毗湿奴依众生业力而分别安立——当知，噢最胜牟尼，此人实为罪业之矿藏、罪源之所。

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• namet: should bow
• namet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nam (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद; विधिलिङ्-भावार्थे ‘should bow’

• viṣṇave: to Viṣṇu
• viṣṇave: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), चतुर्थी विभक्ति (Dative/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• yasya: whose
• yasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (contextual), षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• śarīram: body
• śarīram: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śarīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन; here as subject of ‘is (to be) known’

• karma-bhedine: to the distinguisher of actions
• karma-bhedine: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karma (प्रातिपदिक) + bhedin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), चतुर्थी विभक्ति (Dative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष): कर्मणां भेदिन् = ‘one who differentiates actions’

• pāpānām: of sins
• pāpānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन

• ākaram: mine/source
• ākaram: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ākara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन; here predicate-noun with śarīram

• tat: that
• tat: Anuyogi (अनुयोगी/correlative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; correlating to śarīram

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• vijñeyam: is to be known
• vijñeyam: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi + jñā (धातु) → vijñeya (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त (gerundive/भाव्य), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘to be known/should be understood’

• muni-sattama: O best of sages
• muni-sattama: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक) + sattama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (षष्ठी): मुनीनां सत्तमः

Speaker

Sanatkumara (addressing Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that refusal to offer reverence to Viṣṇu—recognized as the divine regulator of karmic results—reveals a spiritually harmful mindset, making one a “source of sin” due to pride, denial of divine order, and lack of devotion.

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

Bhakti begins with humility and surrender expressed through namaskāra (bowing). By honoring Viṣṇu as the Lord who governs karma, the devotee aligns with dharma and opens the path to purification and grace.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

While not a technical Vedāṅga lesson, it reinforces practical dharma: correct devotional conduct (ācāra) such as salutation and recognition of karmic causality—principles that guide ritual life and ethical discipline.