Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 180

The Exposition of the Krishna Mantra (Kṛṣṇa-mantra-prakāśa): Nyāsa, Dhyāna, Worship, Yantra, and Prayoga

Devanagari script

पीतवासाः शंखचक्रगदांभोजलसत्करः । अनाहतोच्छलद्रत्नधारौघकलशं स्पृशन् ॥ १८० ॥

Transliteration

pītavāsāḥ śaṃkhacakragadāṃbhojalasatkaraḥ | anāhatocchaladratnadhāraughakalaśaṃ spṛśan || 180 ||

Translation

In gelbe Gewänder gekleidet, mit strahlenden Händen, die Muschel, Diskus, Keule und Lotus trugen, berührte Er den Krug, aus dem—ohne jeden Schlag—unaufhörlich ein Strom von strahlenden, juwelengleichen Fluten hervorquoll.

Word by Word

• pīta-vāsāḥ: wearing yellow garments
• pīta-vāsāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pīta (कृदन्त, √pā ‘to drink’ → pīta ‘yellow’ as adj.) + vāsas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; बहुव्रीहिः—‘yasya vāsāḥ pītam’ (one whose garment is yellow)

• śaṃkha-cakra-gadā-ambhoja-lasat-karaḥ: whose hands shine holding conch, discus, mace, and lotus
• śaṃkha-cakra-gadā-ambhoja-lasat-karaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaṃkha + cakra + gadā + ambhoja + lasat (कृदन्त, √las) + kara (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; बहुव्रीहिः—‘one whose hands shine with conch, discus, mace, and lotus’; lasat = वर्तमानकृदन्त ‘shining’

• anāhata-ucchalat-ratna-dhārā-ogha-kalaśam: the pot with an unstruck (self-arising) surging flood of jewel-streams
• anāhata-ucchalat-ratna-dhārā-ogha-kalaśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anāhata + ucchalat (कृदन्त, √chal/√chad? here √chal ‘to leap’ with ud-) + ratna + dhārā + ogha + kalaśa (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; समासः—तत्पुरुषः; ucchalat = वर्तमानकृदन्त ‘surging/splashing’ used adjectivally

• spṛśan: touching
• spṛśan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √spṛś (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (वर्तमानकृदन्त, शतृ-प्रत्यय), Masculine, Nominative Singular; parasmaipada sense: ‘touching’

Speaker

Narada (narrating to the Sanatkumara brothers)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It presents a dhyāna-oriented vision of Vishnu—yellow-robed and holding the four emblems—so the devotee can steady the mind on the Lord’s divine attributes and auspicious presence.

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

By detailing Vishnu’s recognizable emblems and splendor, the verse supports bhakti through remembrance (smaraṇa) and visualization (dhyāna), turning devotion into a focused, contemplative practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It mainly reflects ritual-iconographic knowledge used in worship and dhyāna (how the deity is contemplated with specific attributes), rather than a direct teaching on grammar or astrology in this single verse.