Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 20

The Greatness of Viṣṇu

Viṣṇor Māhātmya

Devanagari script

कर्माण्यन्यानि सन्त्येव विष्णोः प्रीतिकराणि च । तथापि किं महाभाग एतयोः सततोद्यतः ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

karmāṇyanyāni santyeva viṣṇoḥ prītikarāṇi ca | tathāpi kiṃ mahābhāga etayoḥ satatodyataḥ || 20 ||

Translation

确有其他诸行也能令毗湿奴欢喜；然而，大福德者啊，你为何恒常只精勤于这两种修持？

Word by Word

• कर्माणि: acts/deeds
• कर्माणि: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन

• अन्यानि: other
• अन्यानि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• सन्ति: are/exist
• सन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• एव: indeed
• एव: Nipata (निपात/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• प्रीतिकराणि: pleasing (causing delight)
• प्रीतिकराणि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रीति-कर (प्रातिपदिक; प्रीति + कर)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction)

• तथापि: nevertheless
• तथापि: Sambandha/Anvaya (अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा + अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (concessive particle)

• किम्: why/what
• किम्: Prashna (प्रश्न/Interrogative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; interrogative

• महाभाग: O fortunate one
• महाभाग: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• एतयोः: of these two
• एतयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/सप्तमी (Genitive/Locative), द्विवचन (Dual)

• सततोद्यतः: constantly intent (on them)
• सततोद्यतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सतत-उद्यत (प्रातिपदिक; सतत + उद्यत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Sanatkumara (one of the Sanaka brothers)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It highlights discernment in sādhana: although many karmas can please Viṣṇu, the text probes why a seeker prioritizes a select pair of practices, implying focused devotion (niṣṭhā) can be more transformative than scattered merit.

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

By acknowledging multiple Viṣṇu-prītikara acts yet questioning exclusive dedication to “these two,” the verse frames bhakti as steady commitment—choosing and consistently performing core devotional disciplines rather than pursuing many optional rites.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse reflects ritual discernment (kalpa-oriented thinking): evaluating which karmas are Viṣṇu-prītikara and why certain observances (often framed as vrata or daily pūjā/japa) are selected as primary practices.