Shloka 3

The Liberation of the Lizard

Godhā-vimukti

Devanagari script

केचित्स्फाटिकवर्णाभा हरितालनिभाः परे । अन्योन्यश्लेषतां प्राप्तौ सकलैः स्थावरैरिव ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

kecitsphāṭikavarṇābhā haritālanibhāḥ pare | anyonyaśleṣatāṃ prāptau sakalaiḥ sthāvarairiva || 3 ||

Translation

Some appeared crystal-hued, while others looked like green orpiment; and they had come into mutual contact—like all immovable things pressed together.

Word by Word

• केचित्: some
• केचित्: Karta (कर्ता/subject—elliptic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• स्फाटिकवर्णाभाः: crystal-colored; crystal-bright
• स्फाटिकवर्णाभाः: Visheshana (विशेषण to केचित्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्फाटिक + वर्ण + आभा (प्रातिपदिक-समूह)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); समासः—तत्पुरुषः: 'स्फाटिक-वर्ण-आभाः' (having crystal-like color/shine)

• हरितालनिभाः: like orpiment (yellow mineral)
• हरितालनिभाः: Visheshana (विशेषण—elliptic subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हरिताल + निभ (प्रातिपदिक-समूह)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); समासः—तत्पुरुषः: 'हरिताल-सदृशाः'

• परे: others
• परे: Karta (कर्ता/subject—'others')
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• अन्योन्यश्लेषताम्: mutual clinging/adhesion
• अन्योन्यश्लेषताम्: Karma (कर्म/object with प्राप्तौ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्योन्य + श्लेष + ता (प्रातिपदिक-समूह)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—तत्पुरुषः: 'अन्योन्यस्य श्लेषः' → 'अन्योन्य-श्लेषता' (mutual adhesion/embrace)

• प्राप्तौ: having attained; having come to
• प्राप्तौ: Kriya (क्रिया/predicative state)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु) → प्राप्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past participle used predicatively (क्त/कृत्), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन) understood with 'परे/केचित्' (others were/ became attained)

• सकलैः: all
• सकलैः: Visheshana (विशेषण to स्थावरैः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सकल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• स्थावरैः: immobile things; trees
• स्थावरैः: Upamana/Instrument (उपमान/तृतीया—comparison basis)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थावर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• इव: like; as if
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/comparison marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), उपमा-प्रदर्शक (comparative particle)

Speaker

Suta (narrating the Purana dialogue in the Uttara-bhaga style)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It uses vivid, mineral-like imagery (crystal and haritāla hues) to portray the tangible sacred landscape, emphasizing how a tīrtha is experienced through concrete, visible signs in the natural world.

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

Indirectly: by grounding devotion in pilgrimage experience—seeing and approaching the holy place—this verse supports bhakti as lived practice through darśana, proximity, and reverent engagement with the tīrtha’s physical setting.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga is taught in this line; it is primarily descriptive. Practically, it models careful observation and precise description (useful for śāstric exposition), rather than ritual procedure or technical sciences.