Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 42

The Greatness of Viṣṇu

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

Devanagari script

पीताम्बरधरं देवं वनमालाविभूषितम् । तुलसीकोमलदलैरर्चिताङिघ्रं महाद्युतिम् ॥ ४२ ॥

Transliteration

pītāmbaradharaṃ devaṃ vanamālāvibhūṣitam | tulasīkomaladalairarcitāṅighraṃ mahādyutim || 42 ||

Translation

أتأمل في الربّ الإلهي، لابسًا ثوبًا أصفر، متزيّنًا بإكليلٍ من زهور الغابة؛ تُعبَد قدماه بأوراق التولسي الرقيقة، وهو متلألئٌ ببهاءٍ عظيم.

Word by Word

• pītāmbaradharaṃ: wearing yellow garments
• pītāmbaradharaṃ: Visheshana (Adjective to devam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pītāmbaradhara (pīta-ambara-dhara)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• devaṃ: God/Lord
• devaṃ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• vanamālāvibhūṣitam: adorned with a garland of forest flowers
• vanamālāvibhūṣitam: Visheshana (Adjective to devam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vanamālāvibhūṣita (vanamālā-vibhūṣita)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; Tritiya Tatpurusha

• tulasīkomaladalaiḥ: with tender Tulasi leaves
• tulasīkomaladalaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण) for arcita
• Type: Noun
• Root: tulasīkomaladala (tulasī-komala-dala)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• arcitāṅghrim: whose feet are worshipped
• arcitāṅghrim: Visheshana (Adjective to devam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: arcitāṅghri (arcita-aṅghri)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• mahādyutim: of great radiance/splendor
• mahādyutim: Visheshana (Adjective to devam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahādyuti (mahat-dyuti)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

Speaker

Sanatkumāra (teaching Nārada in a devotional/meditative context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Tulasī

FAQs

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

It presents a focused dhyāna (meditative) form of Viṣṇu—yellow-robed, garlanded, radiant—emphasizing devotion expressed through reverent worship of the Lord’s feet with tulasī.

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

Bhakti is shown as loving upāsanā: remembering the Lord’s auspicious form and offering simple, pure items like tulasī leaves, with special reverence to the Lord’s feet (aṅghri-sevā).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual practice (kalpa-oriented pūjā procedure) is implied: selecting sāttvika offerings—especially tulasī for Viṣṇu—and using a dhyāna-śloka to steady the mind before worship.