Shloka 14

Puruṣottama-kṣetra Māhātmya: Śveta-Mādhava & Matsya-Mādhava; Mārkaṇḍeya-tīrtha Mārjana and Bath Liturgy

Devanagari script

श्वेतमाधवमालोक्य समीपे मत्स्यमाधवम् । एकार्णवे जले पूर्वं रूपं रोहितमास्थितः ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

śvetamādhavamālokya samīpe matsyamādhavam | ekārṇave jale pūrvaṃ rūpaṃ rohitamāsthitaḥ || 14 ||

Translation

Beim Anblick von Śveta-Mādhava und nahebei auch von Matsya-Mādhava erinnert man sich daran, dass der Herr einst im einen kosmischen Ozean der Wasser die Gestalt eines roten Fisches (Rohita) annahm.

Word by Word

• श्वेत-माधवम्: Śveta-Mādhava (the white Mādhava)
• श्वेत-माधवम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वेत + माधव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमास (श्वेतः माधवः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आलोक्य: having seen
• आलोक्य: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ + लोक् (धातु) → आलोक्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययरूप

• समीपे: near, in the vicinity
• समीपे: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• मत्स्य-माधवम्: Matsya-Mādhava (Mādhava as the Fish)
• मत्स्य-माधवम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत्स्य + माधव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमास (मत्स्यरूपः माधवः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• एक-अर्णवे: in the single ocean (cosmic flood)
• एक-अर्णवे: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक + अर्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमास (एकः अर्णवः); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• जले: in water
• जले: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• पूर्वम्: formerly
• पूर्वम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Temporal modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्वम् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (formerly/earlier)

• रूपम्: form
• रूपम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• रोहितम्: red/reddish (Rohita)
• रोहितम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रोहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘रूपम्’ इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• आस्थितः: assumed/took (a form)
• आस्थितः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + स्था (धातु) → आस्थित (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (past active/PPP in sense of ‘having assumed’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वाक्ये कर्तृवाचक-भावः (finite sense)

Speaker

Narada (narrating within the Uttara-Bhaga tirtha-mahatmya flow)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Madhava
• Matsya (Fish incarnation)
• Sveta-Madhava

FAQs

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

It links tirtha-darśana (seeing sacred forms) with avatāra-smṛti: by seeing Śveta-Mādhava and Matsya-Mādhava, the devotee recalls Viṣṇu’s saving presence in the primeval flood, strengthening faith and remembrance (smaraṇa-bhakti).

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

It models bhakti as darśana and smaraṇa—seeing the Lord’s forms at a holy place and inwardly remembering His avatāra deeds—turning pilgrimage into concentrated Viṣṇu-remembrance rather than mere travel.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse primarily serves mahatmya and devotional remembrance; indirectly it reflects Purāṇic itihāsa-knowledge used in Dharma practice (how sacred geography and avatāra narratives guide worship and vrata-oriented pilgrimage conduct).