Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 46

Mahāviṣṇu-Mantras: Aṣṭākṣarī, Sudarśana-Astra, Nyāsa Systems, Āvaraṇa-Pūjā, and Prayogas

Devanagari script

चतुर्भुजाः शंखचक्रगदांभघोजधरा इमे । सितकांचनगोदुग्धदूर्वावर्णाश्च शक्तयः ॥ ४६ ॥

Transliteration

caturbhujāḥ śaṃkhacakragadāṃbhaghojadharā ime | sitakāṃcanagodugdhadūrvāvarṇāśca śaktayaḥ || 46 ||

Translation

These Śaktis are four‑armed, bearing the conch (śaṅkha), discus (cakra), mace (gadā), and lotus (padma). Their hues are like white, gold, cow’s milk, and dūrvā grass.

Word by Word

• catur-bhujāḥ: four-armed
• catur-bhujāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catur (प्रातिपदिक) + bhuja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; बहुव्रीहिः (चत्वारः भुजाः यस्याः); विशेषणम् (शक्तीनाम्)

• śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-ambuja-dharāḥ: bearing conch, discus, mace, and lotus
• śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-ambuja-dharāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaṅkha (प्रातिपदिक) + cakra (प्रातिपदिक) + gadā (प्रातिपदिक) + ambuja (प्रातिपदिक) + dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural; बहुव्रीहिः (शङ्खचक्रगदाम्बुजानि धारयन्त्यः); विशेषणम्

• ime: these
• ime: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural; सर्वनाम; निर्देश

• sita-kāñcana-go-dugdha-dūrvā-varṇāḥ: having colors like white, gold, cow’s milk, and dūrvā grass
• sita-kāñcana-go-dugdha-dūrvā-varṇāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sita (प्रातिपदिक) + kāñcana (प्रातिपदिक) + go-dugdha (प्रातिपदिक) + dūrvā (प्रातिपदिक) + varṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural; विशेषणम् (शक्तीनाम्); समासः—कर्मधारयः (वर्ण-निर्देशः: श्वेत/काञ्चन/गोदुग्ध/दूर्वा-सदृश)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction (समुच्चय)

• śaktayaḥ: the Śaktis/powers
• śaktayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; कर्तृपदम्

Speaker

Narada (within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Shakti
• Shankha
• Chakra
• Gada
• Padma

FAQs

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

It prescribes a dhyāna-style visualization: Śaktis are contemplated with Vishnu’s emblems (conch, discus, mace, lotus) and auspicious colors, supporting focused devotion and ritual accuracy.

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

By giving concrete attributes—forms, weapons, and colors—it enables steady remembrance (smaraṇa) and mental worship (mānasa-pūjā), a core method in Vishnu-bhakti practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects technical ritual knowledge used in mantra-vidhi: deity-iconography for dhyāna and associated visual markers (āyudha and varṇa) often applied in nyāsa and worship procedures.