Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 32

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

Devanagari script

उद्यत्कोट्यर्कसदृशं शंखं चक्रं गदांबुजम् । दधतं च करैर्भूमिश्रीभ्यां पार्श्वद्वयांचितम् ॥ ३२ ॥

Transliteration

udyatkoṭyarkasadṛśaṃ śaṃkhaṃ cakraṃ gadāṃbujam | dadhataṃ ca karairbhūmiśrībhyāṃ pārśvadvayāṃcitam || 32 ||

Translation

In Seinen Händen hält Er Muschel, Diskus, Keule und Lotos—strahlend wie das aufsteigende Licht von zehn Millionen Sonnen—und Er steht, zu beiden Seiten geschmückt von Bhūmi (Erde) und Śrī (Lakṣmī).

Word by Word

• udyat: rising, blazing
• udyat: Viseṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: udyat (कृदन्त; √ud-यत्/उद् + शतृ)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), indeclinable as prior member in compound (पूर्वपद-नपुंसकवत्)

• koṭi: crore (ten million)
• koṭi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: koṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), stem-form used in compound (समासपूर्वपद)

• arka: sun
• arka: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), stem-form in compound (समासपूर्वपद)

• sadṛśam: similar (to)
• sadṛśam: Viseṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sadṛśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); compound: udyat-koṭi-arka-sadṛśa (तत्पुरुष: ‘like rising crores of suns’)

• śaṃkham: conch
• śaṃkham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃkha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• cakram: discus
• cakram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cakra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• gadā: mace
• gadā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gadā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), stem-form in compound (समासपूर्वपद)

• ambujam: lotus
• ambujam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ambu + ja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); compound: ambu-ja ‘water-born’ = lotus (तत्पुरुष/उपपद)

• dadhatam: bearing, holding
• dadhatam: Viseṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dadhat (कृदन्त; √dhṛ (धृ) + शतृ)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agreeing with implied ‘form’ (रूपम्)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle (समुच्चय-अव्यय)

• karaiḥ: with (his) hands
• karaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• bhūmi: earth
• bhūmi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūmi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), stem-form in compound (समासपूर्वपद)

• śrībhyām: by Bhūmi and Śrī (Lakṣmī)
• śrībhyām: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया), Dual (द्विवचन); dvandva compound: bhūmi-śrī ‘Bhūmi and Śrī (Lakṣmī)’

• pārśva: side, flank
• pārśva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pārśva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), stem-form in compound (समासपूर्वपद)

• dvaya: pair, twofold
• dvaya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), stem-form in compound; dvigu: pārśva-dvaya ‘two sides’

• añcitam: adorned/attended
• añcitam: Viseṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: añcita (कृदन्त; √añc (अञ्च्) + क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); compound: pārśva-dvaya-añcita ‘adorned/attended on both sides’

Speaker

Narada (describing the form of Vishnu in an instructive/ritual-technical context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Lakshmi (Sri)
• Bhumi (Earth goddess)

FAQs

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

It teaches a focused dhyāna (sacred visualization) of Viṣṇu’s radiant, weapon-bearing form, emphasizing His protective power and auspicious presence with Śrī (prosperity/grace) and Bhūmi (stability/support).

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

By giving a clear, devotional image—Viṣṇu with śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-padma, attended by Śrī and Bhūmi—it supports bhakti through remembrance (smaraṇa) and reverent contemplation, making devotion steady and emotionally anchored.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It aligns with ritual-technical practice (kalpa-oriented application): specifying the deity’s attributes for correct worship/meditation (dhyāna-lakṣaṇa) so mantra, visualization, and pūjā are performed with precision.