Shloka 33

The Greatness of Puruṣottama

Aṣṭākṣarī Maṇḍala-Pūjā and Nyāsa

Devanagari script

स्वर्णवर्णप्रभे देव वाससी प्रतिगृह्यताम् । शरीरं च न जानामि चेष्टां च तव केशव ॥ ३३ ॥

Transliteration

svarṇavarṇaprabhe deva vāsasī pratigṛhyatām | śarīraṃ ca na jānāmi ceṣṭāṃ ca tava keśava || 33 ||

Translation

O strahlender Herr, von goldenem Glanz, nimm diese Gewänder an. O Keśava, ich vermag Deine göttliche Gestalt nicht zu erkennen, noch die Wege Deiner Taten zu ergründen.

Word by Word

• स्वर्णवर्णप्रभे: O one of golden-hued radiance
• स्वर्णवर्णप्रभे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: स्वर्ण-वर्ण-प्रभ (determinative; ‘having golden color-lustre’); सम्बोधन (Vocative/8th), एकवचन (Singular); पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine) (देव इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• देव: O god/lord
• देव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन (Vocative/8th), एकवचन (Singular)

• वाससी: (two) garments
• वाससी: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्विवचन (Dual), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.); अत्र कर्मरूपेण (as object)

• प्रतिगृह्यताम्: please accept
• प्रतिगृह्यताम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति+ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular); आत्मनेपदम्—आज्ञार्थे ‘let it be accepted by you’

• शरीरम्: body
• शरीरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• जानामि: I know
• जानामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपदम्

• चेष्टाम्: gesture/movement/behavior
• चेष्टाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चेष्टा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• केशव: O Keshava
• केशव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन (Vocative/8th), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

A devotee/petitioner addressing Lord Vishnu (Keśava) in reverential prayer (stuti) within the Uttara-Bhaga narrative

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Keshava

FAQs

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

It expresses bhakti through offering (accept these garments) and through humility: the devotee admits that Bhagavan’s form and actions are beyond ordinary comprehension, which is a key mood of surrender (śaraṇāgati).

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

Bhakti is shown as personal address to Keśava, a concrete act of worship (upacāra—offering clothing), and an inner attitude of reverence that accepts the Lord’s līlā as transcendent rather than judging it by human standards.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse mainly reflects devotional liturgy (stuti and upacāra) rather than a technical Vedāṅga lesson; practically, it aligns with ritual procedure (kalpa-prayoga style worship) where vastra is offered as an item of honor in pūjā.