Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 199

The Exposition of the Krishna Mantra (Kṛṣṇa-mantra-prakāśa): Nyāsa, Dhyāna, Worship, Yantra, and Prayoga

Devanagari script

सृष्टिं स्थितिं षडंगं च किरीटं कुंडलद्वयम् । शंखं चक्रं गदां पद्मं मालां श्रीवत्सकौस्तुभौ ॥ १९९ ॥

Transliteration

sṛṣṭiṃ sthitiṃ ṣaḍaṃgaṃ ca kirīṭaṃ kuṃḍaladvayam | śaṃkhaṃ cakraṃ gadāṃ padmaṃ mālāṃ śrīvatsakaustubhau || 199 ||

Translation

He bears the powers of creation and preservation, and the sixfold Vedāṅgas, a crown and a pair of earrings; and also the conch, discus, mace, lotus, a garland, and the marks of Śrīvatsa and Kaustubha.

Word by Word

• सृष्टिम्: creation
• सृष्टिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• स्थितिम्: maintenance
• स्थितिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• षड्-अङ्गम्: six-limbed (six parts)
• षड्-अङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षड् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); द्विगु-समास: 'षड् अङ्गानि यस्य/षडङ्गम्'

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• किरीटम्: crown
• किरीटम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किरीट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• कुण्डल-द्वयम्: pair of earrings
• कुण्डल-द्वयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुण्डल (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष: 'कुण्डलयोः द्वयम्'

• शङ्खम्: conch
• शङ्खम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• चक्रम्: discus
• चक्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• गदाम्: mace
• गदाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• पद्मम्: lotus
• पद्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• मालाम्: garland
• मालाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• श्रीवत्स-कौस्तुभौ: Śrīvatsa and Kaustubha (marks/jewel)
• श्रीवत्स-कौस्तुभौ: Karma (कर्म/objects listed)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीवत्स (प्रातिपदिक) + कौस्तुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), द्विवचन (Dual); इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (copulative): 'श्रीवत्सश्च कौस्तुभश्च'

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

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 presents Viṣṇu as the totality of cosmic functions (creation and preservation) and as the very foundation of Vedic knowledge (the six Vedāṅgas), teaching that devotion is strengthened when the Lord is seen as both the universe’s support and the Veda’s inner meaning.

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

By listing Viṣṇu’s emblems—śaṅkha, cakra, gadā, padma, garland, Śrīvatsa, and Kaustubha—it encourages focused remembrance (smaraṇa) and reverential visualization (dhyāna) of the Lord’s form, a classic bhakti method emphasized in Purāṇic teaching.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It explicitly references the Ṣaḍvedāṅga—Śikṣā (phonetics), Kalpa (ritual procedure), Vyākaraṇa (grammar), Nirukta (etymology), Chandas (meter), and Jyotiṣa (astronomy/astrology)—framing them as sacred supports for correct recitation, interpretation, and application of Vedic rites.