Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 58

योगस्वरूप-धारणा-समाधि-वर्णनम् (केशिध्वजोपदेशः)

Devanagari script

बलित्रिभङ्गिना भुग्ननाभिना चोदरेण वै । प्रलम्बाष्टभुजं विष्णुमथवापि चतुर्भुजम् ॥ ५८ ॥

Transliteration

balitribhaṅginā bhugnanābhinā codareṇa vai | pralambāṣṭabhujaṃ viṣṇumathavāpi caturbhujam || 58 ||

Translation

On peut méditer Viṣṇu dans la gracieuse posture de triple flexion (tribhaṅga), avec le nombril légèrement courbé et le ventre arrondi—soit comme le Seigneur majestueux aux huit bras, soit comme le Seigneur aux quatre bras.

Word by Word

• बलित्रिभङ्गिना: with the triple-bend posture and folds (of the body)
• बलित्रिभङ्गिना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलि + त्रि + भङ्गिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; (त्रि-भङ्गिन्) बहुव्रीहि/कर्मधारय-प्रायः ‘त्रिभङ्गयुक्त’ + बलि-सम्बन्ध (तत्पुरुष)

• भुग्ननाभिना: with a slightly bent navel
• भुग्ननाभिना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भुग्न + नाभि (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (भुग्ना नाभिः यस्य/यत्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• उदरेण: with the belly/abdomen
• उदरेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (instr sg)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक/पादपूरण (emphatic particle)

• प्रलम्बाष्टभुजम्: eight-armed (with long arms)
• प्रलम्बाष्टभुजम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रलम्ब + अष्ट + भुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; (अष्टभुज) द्विगु (अष्टौ भुजाः यस्य) + प्रलम्ब-विशेषण (दीर्घ)

• विष्णुम्: Vishnu
• विष्णुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (acc sg)

• अथवा: or else
• अथवा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथवा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (disjunctive particle)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अप्यर्थ (also/even)

• चतुर्भुजम्: four-armed
• चतुर्भुजम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् + भुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (चत्वारः भुजाः यस्य)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It teaches a concrete dhyāna (meditative visualization) of Viṣṇu’s form, using bodily marks as supports for concentration, leading the mind toward steadiness and mokṣa-oriented devotion.

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

By permitting meditation on Viṣṇu in either aṣṭabhuja or caturbhuja form, it affirms accessible personal devotion (saguṇa-upāsanā), where loving contemplation of the Lord’s form becomes a practical bhakti discipline.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It mainly reflects upāsanā and iconographic dhyāna practice rather than a Vedāṅga science; indirectly it aligns with ritual/meditative procedure (kalpa-style practicality) by prescribing a specific visualization for worship and japa.