Shloka 53
Nāga-āyatana-darśana-pratīkṣā — The Brāhmaṇa’s Request and Waiting on the Gomatī
तत्र ये पुरुषा: श्वेता: पज्चेन्द्रियविवर्जिता: । प्रतिबुद्धा श्व ते सर्वे भक्ताश्न पुरुषोत्तमम्,वहाँ जो चन्द्रमाके समान गौरवर्णके पुरुष थे, वे सब-के-सब पाँचों इन्द्रियोंसे रहित अर्थात् पाज्च-भौतिक शरीरसे शून्य, ज्ञानवान् तथा पुरुषोत्तम श्रीविष्णुके भक्त थे
tatra ye puruṣāḥ śvetāḥ pañcendriyavivarjitāḥ | pratibuddhāś ca te sarve bhaktāś ca puruṣottamam ||
Nārada said: “There, the beings who appeared radiant and white were all free from the five senses—devoid of the gross, sense-based embodiment. Fully awakened in knowledge, they were all devoted to the Supreme Person (Puruṣottama, Viṣṇu).”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links liberation-oriented spirituality with two marks: (1) transcendence of sense-bound embodiment (pañcendriya-vivarjita), and (2) awakened knowledge (pratibuddha), culminating not in mere abstraction but in devotion to the Supreme Person (Puruṣottama). It presents bhakti and jñāna as compatible in the liberated state.
Nārada describes a realm or assembly where radiant beings are seen. Their defining traits are that they are beyond the ordinary five-sense condition and are spiritually awakened; all of them are devotees of Viṣṇu as Puruṣottama.