Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 41

The Greatness of Viṣṇu

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

Devanagari script

श्रीवत्सकौस्तुभधरं हेमयज्ञोपवीतिनम् । नासाविन्यस्तमुक्ताभवर्धमानतनुच्छविम् ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

śrīvatsakaustubhadharaṃ hemayajñopavītinam | nāsāvinyastamuktābhavardhamānatanucchavim || 41 ||

Translation

أتأمّل الربّ الذي يحمل علامة شريفاتسا وجوهرة كاوستوبها، ويلبس الخيط المقدّس الذهبي؛ ويبدو أن بهاء جسده يزداد بفضل زينة اللؤلؤ الموضوعة على أنفه.

Word by Word

• śrīvatsa-kaustubha-dharam: bearing the Śrīvatsa mark and the Kaustubha gem
• śrīvatsa-kaustubha-dharam: Karma (कर्म; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śrīvatsa (श्रीवत्स-प्रातिपदिक) + kaustubha (कौस्तुभ-प्रातिपदिक) + dhara (धर-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन) — tatpuruṣa: 'bearing Śrīvatsa and Kaustubha'

• hema-yajñopavītinam: wearing a golden yajñopavīta
• hema-yajñopavītinam: Karma (कर्म; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hema (हेम-प्रातिपदिक) + yajñopavītin (यज्ञोपवीतिन्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन) — tatpuruṣa: 'having a golden sacred thread'

• nāsā-vinyasta-muktā-ābha-vardhamāna-tanu-cchavim: whose bodily splendor is enhanced by the pearl-lustre set on the nose
• nāsā-vinyasta-muktā-ābha-vardhamāna-tanu-cchavim: Karma (कर्म; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nāsā (नासा-प्रातिपदिक) + vinyasta (विन्यस्त-प्रातिपदिक; PPP from √nyas with vi-) + muktā (मुक्ता-प्रातिपदिक) + ābhā (आभा-प्रातिपदिक) + vardhamāna (वर्धमान-प्रातिपदिक; pres. ptc. from √vṛdh) + tanu (तनु-प्रातिपदिक) + chavi (छवि-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन) — multi-member tatpuruṣa describing appearance: 'whose bodily radiance increases with the pearl-lustre placed on the nose'

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narration; dhyāna-style description of Bhagavān Viṣṇu)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shrivatsa
• Kaustubha

FAQs

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

It presents a dhyāna-lakṣaṇa (meditative iconography) of Bhagavān Viṣṇu—Śrīvatsa, Kaustubha, and auspicious ornaments—so the mind can be steadied on a clear, sacred form for bhakti and contemplation.

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

Bhakti is strengthened through loving remembrance (smaraṇa) and meditation (dhyāna) on the Lord’s auspicious marks; the verse gives concrete attributes that help a devotee visualize and adore Viṣṇu with focus.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Indirectly, it reflects śikṣā/ritual culture through the mention of the yajñopavīta (sacred thread), an emblem of Vedic discipline and yajña-related saṃskāra observance, though the verse’s primary aim is devotional meditation.