Shloka 57

Kāruṇya-stotra Phalaśruti; Dream-Darśana of Vāsudeva; Manifestation and Pratiṣṭhā of Jagannātha, Balabhadra (Ananta), and Subhadrā

Devanagari script

गौरं गोक्षीरवर्णाभे द्वितीयं स्वस्तिकांकितम् । लांगलास्त्रधरं देवमनंताख्यं महाबलम् ॥ ५७ ॥

Transliteration

gauraṃ gokṣīravarṇābhe dvitīyaṃ svastikāṃkitam | lāṃgalāstradharaṃ devamanaṃtākhyaṃ mahābalam || 57 ||

Translation

Die zweite göttliche Gestalt ist hell und leuchtend wie die Farbe von Kuhmilch, mit dem Svastika gezeichnet; sie trägt den Pflug als Waffe. Diese Gottheit von großer Macht heißt Ananta, von gewaltiger Stärke.

Word by Word

• gauram: fair/white
• gauram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gaura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• go-kṣīra-varṇa-ābhe: in/with the luster of milk-white color
• go-kṣīra-varṇa-ābhe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: go + kṣīra + varṇa + ābha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः—‘गोक्षीरस्य वर्णस्य आभा’ (having the hue of cow’s milk)

• dvitīyam: the second
• dvitīyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvitīya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• svastika-aṃkitam: marked with a svastika
• svastika-aṃkitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svastika + aṃkita (प्रातिपदिक; √aṅk अङ्क् + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; तत्पुरुषः (svastikena aṃkitaḥ)

• lāṃgala-astra-dharam: bearing the plough as a weapon
• lāṃgala-astra-dharam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: lāṃgala + astra + dhara (प्रातिपदिक; √dhṛ धृ + अ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (lāṃgalam astram dharati)

• devam: the god
• devam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• ananta-ākhyam: named ‘Ananta’
• ananta-ākhyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ananta + ākhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (ananta iti ākhyaḥ)

• mahā-balam: of great strength
• mahā-balam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः (mahat balaṃ yasya / mahad-balam)

Speaker

Narada (as narrator within the Uttara-Bhaga mahatmya-style description)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Ananta

FAQs

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

It presents a meditative iconography of the deity Ananta—radiant, auspiciously marked, and powerful—guiding devotees to contemplate divine qualities (śubha-lakṣaṇa, bala) as part of mahatmya-based devotion.

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

By describing the deity’s auspicious marks and attributes, the verse supports rūpa-dhyāna (devotional contemplation of form), a practical bhakti method where remembrance is stabilized through clear sacred imagery.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Iconographic identification relies on śāstric lakṣaṇas (recognition by marks and weapons); while not a direct Vedāṅga lesson, it aligns with traditional ritual/temple practice where correct form-description supports worship procedures.