Shloka 55

The Greatness of Puruṣottama

Aṣṭākṣarī Maṇḍala-Pūjā and Nyāsa

Devanagari script

काम्येषु च यथोक्तं स्याद्यथाशक्ति समाहितः । पद्मं शंखं च श्रीवत्सं गदां गरुडमेव च ॥ ५५ ॥

Transliteration

kāmyeṣu ca yathoktaṃ syādyathāśakti samāhitaḥ | padmaṃ śaṃkhaṃ ca śrīvatsaṃ gadāṃ garuḍameva ca || 55 ||

Translation

وفي الأعمال التي تُقام لقضاء رغباتٍ مخصوصة، فليُعمل كما وُصِف، مع جمعِ القلب وبحسب الاستطاعة—(بالتأمّل أو بوضع العلامة) اللوتس، والصدفة (شَنْخا)، وعلامة شْرِيفَتْسَة (Śrīvatsa)، والهراوة (گَدَا)، وكذلك غارودا (Garuḍa).

Word by Word

• काम्येषु: in optional (desire-motivated) rites
• काम्येषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन; अर्थे—‘काम्यकर्मसु’ (in optional/desired rites)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय-निपात)

• यथोक्तम्: as stated
• यथोक्तम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा + उक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) अर्थे—‘यथोक्तम्’ (as stated)

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; अर्थः—‘भवेत्’ (should be)

• यथाशक्ति: according to one’s ability
• यथाशक्ति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) अर्थे—‘शक्त्यानुसारम्’ (according to ability)

• समाहितः: composed/attentive
• समाहितः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + आ + धा (धातु) → समाहित (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (one who is composed/collected)

• पद्मम्: lotus
• पद्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• शङ्खम्: conch
• शङ्खम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय-निपात)

• श्रीवत्सम्: Śrīvatsa (mark)
• श्रीवत्सम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीवत्स (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विष्णोर्लाञ्छन-विशेषः (a mark named Śrīvatsa)

• गदाम्: mace
• गदाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• गरुडम्: Garuḍa
• गरुडम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गरुड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (अवधारण-निपात)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय-निपात)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuḍa
• Śrīvatsa

FAQs

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

It teaches that even desire-oriented worship should be done with mental concentration and fidelity to scripture, using Viṣṇu’s auspicious emblems (lotus, conch, Śrīvatsa, mace, Garuḍa) to anchor devotion and purity of intention.

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

By emphasizing samādhāna (collected attention) and remembrance of Viṣṇu’s sacred symbols, the verse frames ritual as upāsanā—devotional contemplation—where external acts become vehicles for inner bhakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects ritual application of śāstra-based injunctions (kalpa/ācāra orientation): follow yathokta (as prescribed) and adapt yathāśakti (to one’s means), a key practical rule for correct performance of rites.