Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 12

Hari-nāma Mahimā and Caraṇāmṛta: The Redemption of the Hunter Gulika

Uttaṅka Itihāsa

Devanagari script

विष्णुभक्तिविहीना ये चंडालाः परिकीर्तिताः । चंडाला अपि वै श्रेष्ठा हरिभक्तिपरायणाः ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

viṣṇubhaktivihīnā ye caṃḍālāḥ parikīrtitāḥ | caṃḍālā api vai śreṣṭhā haribhaktiparāyaṇāḥ || 12 ||

Translation

凡缺乏对毗湿奴（Viṣṇu）虔敬者，被称为旃陀罗；然而即便是旃陀罗，若全心归依哈利（Hari）之奉爱（bhakti），亦实为最上。

Word by Word

• विष्णु-भक्ति-विहीनाः: devoid of devotion to Vishnu
• विष्णु-भक्ति-विहीनाः: Karta/Viśeṣaṇa (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + विहीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण—‘चण्डालाः’ इत्यस्य

• ये: who (those who)
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम

• चण्डालाः: outcastes (caṇḍālas)
• चण्डालाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चण्डाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• परिकीर्तिताः: are proclaimed/are called
• परिकीर्तिताः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + कीर्त् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगार्थे—‘are declared/called’

• चण्डालाः: caṇḍālas
• चण्डालाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चण्डाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle); ‘even/also’

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• श्रेष्ठाः: excellent/supreme
• श्रेष्ठाः: Karta/Viśeṣaṇa (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण—‘चण्डालाः’ इत्यस्य

• हरि-भक्ति-परायणाः: devoted to Hari’s bhakti
• हरि-भक्ति-परायणाः: Karta/Viśeṣaṇa (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण—‘चण्डालाः’ इत्यस्य

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada on the primacy of Hari-bhakti)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Hari

FAQs

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

It asserts that spiritual worth is measured by devotion to Hari, not by social identity—bhakti is the true marker of purity and excellence.

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

It teaches that exclusive dedication to Hari (hari-bhakti-parāyaṇa) elevates a person to the highest standing, while lack of Viṣṇu-bhakti is a spiritual fall regardless of birth.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is ethical-spiritual discernment: evaluate conduct and devotion rather than lineage.