Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 59

योगस्वरूप-धारणा-समाधि-वर्णनम् (केशिध्वजोपदेशः)

Devanagari script

समस्थितोरुजघनं सुस्थिराङिघ्रकराम्बुजम् । चिन्तयेद्ब्रह्मभूतं तं पीतनिर्मलवाससम् ॥ ५९ ॥

Transliteration

samasthitorujaghanaṃ susthirāṅighrakarāmbujam | cintayedbrahmabhūtaṃ taṃ pītanirmalavāsasam || 59 ||

Translation

Man soll jenen Herrn betrachten, der als Brahman verwirklicht ist: mit breiten Hüften und Schenkeln in vollkommener Haltung; mit Lotusfüßen und Lotushänden, ruhig und unbewegt; gekleidet in makellos reine gelbe Gewänder.

Word by Word

• समस्थितोरुजघनम्: with evenly set thighs and hips
• समस्थितोरुजघनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समस्थित + ऊरु + जघन (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; (समस्थित) क्त-कृदन्त ‘evenly placed/standing’ + (ऊरुजघन) द्वन्द्व/कर्मधारय-प्रायः ‘thighs and hips’

• सुस्थिराङ्घ्रिकराम्बुजम्: with very steady lotus-like feet and hands
• सुस्थिराङ्घ्रिकराम्बुजम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + स्थिर + अङ्घ्रि + कर + अम्बुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; (सुस्थिर) विशेषण + (अङ्घ्रिकराम्बुज) षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अङ्घ्र्योः करयोश्च अम्बुजे इव)

• चिन्तयेत्: should contemplate
• चिन्तयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘one should contemplate’

• ब्रह्मभूतम्: as Brahman-like / of the nature of Brahman
• ब्रह्मभूतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्म + भूत (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्मरूपेण भूतम् = become/being Brahman)

• तम्: him/that (one)
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (acc sg)

• पीतनिर्मलवाससम्: wearing pure yellow garments
• पीतनिर्मलवाससम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीत + निर्मल + वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (पीतं निर्मलं वासः यस्य)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in Moksha-dharma context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Vishnu (implied as the meditated Lord in yellow garments)

FAQs

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

It prescribes form-based contemplation (dhyāna/upāsanā) where steadiness, purity, and divine attributes lead the meditator toward Brahman-realization and mokṣa.

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

By directing the mind to the Lord’s auspicious form—lotus hands and feet, pure yellow garments—it turns devotion into focused remembrance, a classic bhakti practice that stabilizes the heart and aligns it with the Supreme.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes practical yoga-upāsanā discipline—steady posture and steady mental visualization—rather than a specific Vedāṅga; it functions as a ritual-mental technique for concentration used alongside dharma and sādhana.