Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 10

The Greatness of Viṣṇu

Viṣṇor Māhātmya

Devanagari script

आसीत् पुरा महीपालः सोमवंशसमुद्भवः । जयध्वज इति ख्यातो नारायणपरायणः ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

āsīt purā mahīpālaḥ somavaṃśasamudbhavaḥ | jayadhvaja iti khyāto nārāyaṇaparāyaṇaḥ || 10 ||

Translation

久远以前，有一位护持大地的君王，出自月族（Somavaṃśa）；其名闻于世曰“胜幢”（Jayadhvaja），一心归依那罗延那（Nārāyaṇa）。

Word by Word

• āsīt: there was
• āsīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect/past), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• purā: formerly
• purā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb: 'formerly')

• mahī-pālaḥ: king; protector of the earth
• mahī-pālaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahī (प्रातिपदिक) + pāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (protector of the earth), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• soma-vaṃśa-samudbhavaḥ: born in the Soma dynasty
• soma-vaṃśa-samudbhavaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: soma (प्रातिपदिक) + vaṃśa (प्रातिपदिक) + samudbhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (from the Soma lineage), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् (agreeing with mahīpālaḥ)

• jayadhvajaḥ: Jayadhvaja
• jayadhvajaḥ: Karta (कर्ता; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jayadhvaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् (proper name)

• iti: thus; named
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: इति-कारक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• khyātaḥ: was renowned/called
• khyātaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया; predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: khyā (धातु) → khyāta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• nārāyaṇa-parāyaṇaḥ: wholly devoted to Nārāyaṇa
• nārāyaṇa-parāyaṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nārāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + parāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (one devoted to Nārāyaṇa), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् (agreeing with mahīpālaḥ/jayadhvajaḥ)

Speaker

Narada (narrating to the Sanatkumara brothers, contextually)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

Secondary Rasa: vira (heroic)

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Jayadhvaja
• Soma-vamsha (Lunar dynasty)

FAQs

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

It introduces an exemplary ruler whose defining spiritual identity is being “Nārāyaṇa-parāyaṇa”—teaching that true greatness (even in kingship) is measured by wholehearted refuge in the Lord.

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

Bhakti is presented as single-pointed orientation: Jayadhvaja is known not merely by lineage or power, but by unwavering devotion to Nārāyaṇa, implying devotion as the highest qualification.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa) is taught in this verse; it functions as narrative framing for a dharmic-bhakti exemplar rather than a technical instruction.