Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 173

Mahāviṣṇu-Mantras: Aṣṭākṣarī, Sudarśana-Astra, Nyāsa Systems, Āvaraṇa-Pūjā, and Prayogas

Devanagari script

अंकुशं दधतं दोर्भिः श्लिष्टे कमलयोरसि । पश्यत्यंकस्थयांभोजश्रिया रागोल्लसदृशा ॥ १७३ ॥

Transliteration

aṃkuśaṃ dadhataṃ dorbhiḥ śliṣṭe kamalayorasi | paśyatyaṃkasthayāṃbhojaśriyā rāgollasadṛśā || 173 ||

Translation

Mit seinen Armen hält Er den Aṅkuśa (Elefantenhaken); und Śrī Lakṣmī schmiegt sich an Seine lotosgleiche Brust. Mit Augen, die vor inniger Glut leuchten, schaut Er auf die lotosgleiche Schönheit, die auf Seinem Schoß sitzt.

Word by Word

• अङ्कुशम्: a goad
• अङ्कुशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्कुश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• दधतम्: holding
• दधतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धा (धातु) → दधत् (कृदन्त, शतृ/वर्तमान कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying the deity)

• दोर्भिः: with (his) arms
• दोर्भिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दोर्/दोस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (वेद/काव्ये), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/तृतीया), बहुवचन; करण (instrument)

• श्लिष्टे: clasped/embraced
• श्लिष्टे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्लिष् (धातु) → श्लिष्ट (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरणे (locative)

• कमल-योः: of the two lotuses
• कमल-योः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/षष्ठी), द्विवचन

• उरसि: on the chest
• उरसि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• पश्यति: sees
• पश्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• अङ्क-स्थया: by (Lakṣmī) seated on the lap
• अङ्क-स्थया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अङ्क (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (अङ्के स्थिता); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/तृतीया), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying śriyā)

• अम्भोज-श्रिया: by Lotus-born Śrī (Lakṣmī)
• अम्भोज-श्रिया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्भोज (प्रातिपदिक) + श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (अम्भोजे/अम्भोजात् जाता श्रीः); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण (instrument/means)

• राग-उल्लस-दृशा: with eyes shining with love
• राग-उल्लस-दृशा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राग (प्रातिपदिक) + उल्लस (धातु) → उल्लसत् (कृदन्त) + दृश्/दृशा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (रागेन उल्लसन्ती दृक् यस्याः/या); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/तृतीया), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying śriyā)

Speaker

Narada (within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue flow; descriptive/meditative narration)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Laksmi

FAQs

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

It presents a dhyāna-visualization of Viṣṇu with Śrī (Lakṣmī): the divine embrace and radiant gaze indicate inseparable grace (śrī) and lordship (aiśvarya), supporting devotional contemplation.

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

By giving a vivid form to meditate upon—Viṣṇu holding the aṅkuśa and united with Lakṣmī—it guides the devotee to steady the mind through loving, personal contemplation (saguṇa-bhakti).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It aligns with technical tradition (śāstra) used in ritual and worship—murti-lakṣaṇa and dhyāna-lakṣaṇa—helping priests and practitioners perform accurate pūjā and mantra-dhyāna with correct iconographic details.