Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18

Mantra-Māhātmya and Sādhana of Kārtavīryārjuna

Nyāsa, Yantra, Homa, and Dīpa-Vrata

Devanagari script

दधतं स्वर्णमालाढ्यं रक्तवस्त्रसमावृतम् । चक्रावतारं श्रीविष्णोर्ध्यायेदर्जुनभूपतिम् ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

dadhataṃ svarṇamālāḍhyaṃ raktavastrasamāvṛtam | cakrāvatāraṃ śrīviṣṇordhyāyedarjunabhūpatim || 18 ||

Translation

Man soll König Arjuna als Verkörperung der Diskus‑Inkarnation (Cakra‑Avatāra) Śrī Viṣṇus meditieren—geschmückt mit einer reichen goldenen Girlande und in rote Gewänder gehüllt.

Word by Word

• dadhatam: (you all) hold/bear
• dadhatam: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhṛ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), परस्मैपद; मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन (Plural); धातु: धृ—‘धारणे’

• svarṇa-mālā-āḍhyam: rich with a golden garland
• svarṇa-mālā-āḍhyam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svarṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + mālā (प्रातिपदिक) + āḍhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘स्वर्णमालया आढ्यम्’

• rakta-vastra-samāvṛtam: covered with red garments
• rakta-vastra-samāvṛtam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rakta (प्रातिपदिक) + vastra (प्रातिपदिक) + sam-āvṛta (कृदन्त, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); कृदन्तः: सम्+आ√वृ (धातु) + क्त (PPP) = समावृत; समासः कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः—‘रक्तवस्त्रेण समावृतम्’

• cakra-avatāram: the incarnation of the discus
• cakra-avatāram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cakra (प्रातिपदिक) + avatāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘चक्रस्य अवतारः’

• śrī-viṣṇoḥ: of Lord Vishnu
• śrī-viṣṇoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī-viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारयः—‘श्रीमान् विष्णुः’

• dhyāyet: one should meditate (upon)
• dhyāyet: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhyai (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधि), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• arjuna-bhūpatim: King Arjuna
• arjuna-bhūpatim: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arjuna (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūpati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘अर्जुनस्य भूपतिः’

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Arjuna (Bhupati)
• Chakra (Sudarshana)

FAQs

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

It prescribes a precise dhyāna (visualization) form: meditating on a royal, auspicious manifestation identified with Viṣṇu’s cakra-śakti, emphasizing protective divine power and focused devotion.

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

Bhakti here is practiced as upāsanā through form-based contemplation—fixing the mind on Viṣṇu’s empowered manifestation (cakrāvatāra) with specific attributes (gold garland, red cloth) to stabilize attention and devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights applied ritual-technical instruction: dhyāna-lakṣaṇa (defining meditation iconography) used alongside mantra/rite—typical of Vedāṅga-aligned procedural knowledge for correct upāsanā.