Shloka 17

The Greatness of Puruṣottama

Goloka-tattva and Rādhā–Kṛṣṇa Upāsanā

Devanagari script

चतुर्भुजं तु यद्रूपं लक्ष्मीकांतं मनोहरम् । तद्दृष्टं तु शिवाद्यैश्च भक्तवृन्दैरनेकशः ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

caturbhujaṃ tu yadrūpaṃ lakṣmīkāṃtaṃ manoharam | taddṛṣṭaṃ tu śivādyaiśca bhaktavṛndairanekaśaḥ || 17 ||

Translation

Esa forma encantadora—el Señor de cuatro brazos, amado de Lakṣmī—ha sido contemplada muchas veces por Śiva y otros, y por multitudes de devotos.

Word by Word

• चतुर्भुजम्: four-armed
• चतुर्भुजम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + भुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; बहुव्रीहिः

• तु: but/and
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle)

• यत्-रूपम्: that form which
• यत्-रूपम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; सम्बन्धे तत्पुरुषः (yasya rūpam / yad rūpam)

• लक्ष्मी-कान्तम्: beloved of Lakshmi
• लक्ष्मी-कान्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लक्ष्मी (प्रातिपदिक) + कान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (lakṣmyāḥ kāntaḥ)

• मनोहरम्: charming
• मनोहरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनोहर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• तत्-दृष्टम्: that was seen
• तत्-दृष्टम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + दृष्ट (दृश्-धातु, क्त-कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (tasya dṛṣṭam) / ‘was seen’ (P.P.P.)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle)

• शिव-आद्यैः: by Shiva and others
• शिव-आद्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental), बहुवचनम्; ‘शिवः आदिः येषाम्’ इति (ādi-sense)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• भक्त-वृन्दैः: by groups of devotees
• भक्त-वृन्दैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + वृन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः/पुंलिङ्गः (वृन्द-शब्दः), तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (bhaktānāṃ vṛndaiḥ)

• अनेकशः: many times / in many ways
• अनेकशः: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनेकशः (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार/आवृत्तिवाचक-अव्यय (repeatedly, in many ways)

Speaker

Narada (within a Narada–Sanatkumara style puranic discourse; verse states a narrative assertion)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Lakshmi
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It affirms the reality and accessibility of Bhagavān Viṣṇu’s auspicious four-armed form (saguṇa-darśana), witnessed not only by devotees but even by exalted beings like Śiva—strengthening faith in personal devotion and divine grace.

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

By emphasizing that devotees repeatedly behold the Lord’s enchanting form, the verse highlights bhakti as a relational path—where sustained devotion culminates in darśana (direct experience/vision) and deepened surrender to Lakṣmīkānta.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is saguṇa-upāsanā—meditating on Viṣṇu’s caturbhuja form (a common purāṇic practice aligned with mantra-japa and dhyāna rather than a technical science like Jyotiṣa).