Shloka 46

The Greatness of Puruṣottama

Goloka-tattva and Rādhā–Kṛṣṇa Upāsanā

Devanagari script

पूर्वं सनत्कुमाराय शंभवे तदनंतरम् । सखिभावं समाश्रित्य गोपिकावृंदमध्यगम् ॥ ४६ ॥

Transliteration

pūrvaṃ sanatkumārāya śaṃbhave tadanaṃtaram | sakhibhāvaṃ samāśritya gopikāvṛṃdamadhyagam || 46 ||

Translation

Primero (Él se reveló) a Sanatkumāra; después, a Śambhu (Śiva). Luego, asumiendo el íntimo ánimo de un amigo, entró en medio de la asamblea de las gopīs.

Word by Word

• पूर्वम्: first
• पूर्वम्: Kala (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb: first/before)

• सनत्कुमाराय: to Sanatkumāra
• सनत्कुमाराय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनत्कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन (Singular)

• शम्भवे: to Śambhu (Śiva)
• शम्भवे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative), एकवचन (Singular)

• तत्: then
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभूत सर्वनाम (indeclinable use: then/thereafter)

• अनन्तरम्: afterwards/thereafter
• अनन्तरम्: Kala (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb: immediately after)

• सखि-भावम्: the attitude of friendship
• सखि-भावम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सखि (प्रातिपदिक) + भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• समाश्रित्य: having resorted to
• समाश्रित्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रि (धातु) + सम् + आ (उपसर्ग)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययकृदन्त (indeclinable verbal)

• गोपिका-वृन्द-मध्य-गम्: one who has entered the midst of the gopīs’ group
• गोपिका-वृन्द-मध्य-गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गोपिका (प्रातिपदिक) + वृन्द (प्रातिपदिक) + मध्य (प्रातिपदिक) + ग (गम्-धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) ‘गतम्/गम्’ (gone/entered)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Sanatkumara
• Shambhu (Shiva)
• Gopikas

FAQs

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

It highlights the Purāṇic theme that the Supreme is accessible through graded intimacy—first to exalted sages and deities (Sanatkumāra and Śiva), and then through the deepest personal closeness by entering the gopīs’ circle in an intimate devotional mood.

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

The verse points to bhakti as relationship-based: beyond reverence, devotion matures into specific bhāvas. Here, sakhya-bhāva (friendly intimacy) is presented as a mode through which the Lord participates directly in devotees’ loving association.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No explicit Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa-ritual procedure) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is theological—understanding bhāva (devotional disposition) as a key principle for sādhana in Purāṇic bhakti.