Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 60

The Greatness of Viṣṇu

Uttaṅka’s Hymn, Hari’s Manifestation, and the Boon of Bhakti

Devanagari script

इति श्रीबृहन्नारदीयपुराणे पूर्वभागे प्रथमपादे विष्णुमाहात्म्यंनामाष्टत्रिंशोऽध्यायः ॥ ३८ ॥

Transliteration

iti śrībṛhannāradīyapurāṇe pūrvabhāge prathamapāde viṣṇumāhātmyaṃnāmāṣṭatriṃśo'dhyāyaḥ || 38 ||

Translation

至此，《圣大那罗陀往世书》前分第一品中名为《毗湿奴之伟大》的第三十八章圆满结束。

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (Discourse marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Nirdeśa-avyaya (quotative/closing particle/इति)

• śrī-bṛhat-nāradīya-purāṇe: in the Śrī Bṛhan-Nāradīya Purāṇa
• śrī-bṛhat-nāradīya-purāṇe: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक) + bṛhat (प्रातिपदिक) + nāradīya (प्रातिपदिक) + purāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsaka, Saptamī (Locative/सप्तमी) Ekavacana; title-compound: ‘śrīmat bṛhat nāradīyaṃ purāṇam’ (in the Śrī Bṛhan-Nāradīya Purāṇa)

• pūrva-bhāge: in the first part
• pūrva-bhāge: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī Ekavacana; Tatpuruṣa ‘pūrve bhāge’ (in the former part)

• prathama-pāde: in the first section
• prathama-pāde: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prathama (प्रातिपदिक) + pāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī Ekavacana; Tatpuruṣa ‘prathame pāde’ (in the first pāda/section)

• viṣṇu-māhātmyam: (the section) ‘Viṣṇu-māhātmya’
• viṣṇu-māhātmyam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + māhātmya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsaka, Prathamā Ekavacana; Tatpuruṣa ‘viṣṇoḥ māhātmyam’ (the greatness of Viṣṇu)

• nāma: named/called
• nāma: Sambandha (Appellative marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nāma-avyaya (indeclinable ‘named/called’ used as particle/नाम)

• aṣṭa-triṃśaḥ: thirty-eighth
• aṣṭa-triṃśaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + triṃśat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana; numeral compound (dvandva-like additive) meaning 38; qualifies adhyāyaḥ

• adhyāyaḥ: chapter
• adhyāyaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhyāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana

Speaker

Sūta (editorial colophon/traditional narrator marker)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It serves as a formal colophon marking the completion of the “Viṣṇu-māhātmya” chapter, reinforcing that the preceding teaching is to be received as praise of Viṣṇu and a concluded unit for study, recitation, and reflection.

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

Though not instructional by itself, it frames the entire chapter as “Viṣṇu’s greatness,” indicating that the chapter’s core orientation is bhakti—devotional remembrance and glorification of Viṣṇu as a principal spiritual means.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights textual organization and transmission practice (anukrama/colophon conventions): precise sectioning by bhāga, pāda, and adhyāya—useful for accurate citation, memorization, and ritual/recitational referencing.