Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 65

Bhāgīratha’s Bringing of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

तं दृष्ट्वा पुण्डरीकाक्षं भाभासितदिगन्तरम् । अतसीपुष्पसंकाशं स्फुरत्कुण्डलमण्डितम् ॥ ६५ ॥

Transliteration

taṃ dṛṣṭvā puṇḍarīkākṣaṃ bhābhāsitadigantaram | atasīpuṣpasaṃkāśaṃ sphuratkuṇḍalamaṇḍitam || 65 ||

Translation

Seeing Him—the lotus-eyed Lord—who illumined the far horizons in every direction, radiant like the blue atasi flower and adorned with shining earrings, they were filled with reverent awe.

Word by Word

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), indeclinable (अव्ययवत्); ‘having seen’

• puṇḍarīka-akṣam: lotus-eyed
• puṇḍarīka-akṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṇḍarīka (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारयः (puṇḍarīka-sadṛśam akṣam yasya)

• bhābhāsita-dik-antaram: illuminating the quarters and the intermediate directions
• bhābhāsita-dik-antaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhābhāsita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √bhās) + dik (प्रातिपदिक) + antara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुषः (dik-antarāṇi bhābhāsitāni yena)

• atasī-puṣpa-saṃkāśam: having the luster of flax-flowers
• atasī-puṣpa-saṃkāśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: atasī (प्रातिपदिक) + puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃkāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); उपमान-तत्पुरुषः (atasī-puṣpa-iva saṃkāśaḥ)

• sphurat-kuṇḍala-maṇḍitam: adorned with shining earrings
• sphurat-kuṇḍala-maṇḍitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sphurat (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √sphur, शतृ) + kuṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक) + maṇḍita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √maṇḍ, क्त)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुषः (sphurat-kuṇḍalaiḥ maṇḍitam)

Speaker

Narada (narrative description within the dialogue context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

The verse highlights darśana—direct vision of the lotus-eyed Lord—whose presence dispels darkness and illuminates all directions, symbolizing the removal of ignorance through divine grace.

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

By portraying Viṣṇu’s beauty, radiance, and auspicious ornaments, the verse supports bhakti through contemplative remembrance (smaraṇa) and reverent visualization of the Lord’s form, which deepens devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa) is taught directly here; the verse functions primarily as a devotional-epic description used for dhyāna (meditative focus) in Purāṇic practice.