Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 8

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

Uttaṅka Itihāsa

Devanagari script

हरिपूजाकरो यस्तु यदि पापं समाचरेत् । तमेव विष्णुद्वेष्टारं प्राहुस्तत्त्वार्त्थकोविदाः ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

haripūjākaro yastu yadi pāpaṃ samācaret | tameva viṣṇudveṣṭāraṃ prāhustattvārtthakovidāḥ || 8 ||

Translation

若有人行哈利（Hari）之礼拜却仍造罪，通达真实与正义之智者宣说：此人实为憎恨毗湿奴者。

Word by Word

• हरि-पूजा-करः: a performer of Hari-worship
• हरि-पूजा-करः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक) + पूजा (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—हरेः पूजायाः करः (one who performs Hari’s worship)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थ (but/indeed)

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बन्धबोधक-अव्यय (conditional conjunction)

• पापम्: sin
• पापम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• समाचरेत्: should commit/practise
• समाचरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद; 3rd Person (प्रथम-पुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधारणार्थ (emphasis)

• विष्णु-द्वेष्टारम्: a hater of Vishnu
• विष्णु-द्वेष्टारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वेष्टृ (प्रातिपदिक; from द्विष् + तृच्)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—विष्णोः द्वेष्टा (hater of Vishnu)

• प्राहुः: have said/call
• प्राहुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आह्/अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद; 3rd Person (प्रथम-पुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• तत्त्व-अर्थ-कोविदाः: knowers of the true meaning
• तत्त्व-अर्थ-कोविदाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + कोविद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); तत्पुरुषः—तत्त्वस्य अर्थे कोविदाः (knowers of the meaning of truth)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It teaches that true devotion to Hari must transform one’s conduct; worship that coexists with deliberate sinful behavior is treated as inner hostility toward Viṣṇu rather than genuine bhakti.

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

Bhakti is not merely ritual performance (pūjā) but alignment of intention and action; persistent pāpa while claiming devotion is portrayed as contradiction that negates devotion’s authenticity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes ācāra (right conduct) as the practical foundation of ritual life; it is an applied dharmic principle rather than a technical point of Śikṣā/Vyākaraṇa/Jyotiṣa.