Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 120

The Exposition of Nṛsiṁha Worship-Mantras, Nyāsa, Mudrās, Yantras, Kavaca, and Nṛsiṁha Gāyatrī

Devanagari script

ऊर्द्ध्वमिन्दीवरश्यामो माधवस्तु गदाधरः । गोविन्दो दक्षिणे पार्श्वे धन्वी चन्द्र प्रभो महान् ॥ १२० ॥

Transliteration

ūrddhvamindīvaraśyāmo mādhavastu gadādharaḥ | govindo dakṣiṇe pārśve dhanvī candra prabho mahān || 120 ||

Translation

Arriba está Mādhava, oscuro como el loto azul, portando la maza. A la derecha está Govinda, el Grande, resplandeciente como la luna, sosteniendo el arco.

Word by Word

• ūrddhvam: above, upward
• ūrddhvam: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ūrddhva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• indīvara-śyāmaḥ: dark like a blue lotus
• indīvara-śyāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: indīvara (प्रातिपदिक) + śyāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुं), Prathamā (1st case/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (singular/एकवचन); adjective used as epithet

• mādhavaḥ: Mādhava (Vishnu/Krishna)
• mādhavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mādhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; proper epithet/name

• tu: indeed/and/but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle (निपात) indicating contrast/emphasis

• gadā-dharaḥ: bearer of the mace
• gadā-dharaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gadā (प्रातिपदिक) + dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa (गदायाः धरः)

• govindaḥ: Govinda
• govindaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: govinda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; proper epithet/name

• dakṣiṇe: on the right (side)
• dakṣiṇe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dakṣiṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (नपुं), Saptamī (7th case/सप्तमी), Ekavacana; used adjectivally with pārśve

• pārśve: at the side/flank
• pārśve: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pārśva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Saptamī, Ekavacana

• dhanvī: the bow-bearer
• dhanvī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanvin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; possessive noun/adjective meaning 'having a bow'

• candra-prabhaḥ: moon-radiant
• candra-prabhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: candra (प्रातिपदिक) + prabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; adjective/epithet

• mahān: great
• mahān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; irregular stem mahat

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Madhava
• Govinda
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It prescribes a precise dhyāna-krama (visualization order) of Vishnu’s forms—Mādhava above and Govinda on the right—so the devotee’s meditation becomes steady, vivid, and ritually correct.

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

By focusing the mind on Vishnu’s auspicious nāmas and attributes—blue-lotus complexion, mace, bow, and moon-like radiance—the verse turns devotion into contemplative worship (dhyāna-bhakti) with a clear mental form.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects a technical, rule-based approach to worship—using structured placement and identifiable emblems for correct dhyāna and arcana—akin to applied ritual science (kalpa-style precision) within the Narada Purana’s Vedanga-oriented section.