Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 53

Śuka’s Yoga-ascent, the Echo of ‘Bhoḥ’, and the Vaikuṇṭha Vision

Devanagari script

चतुःसनाय कूर्माय पृथवे स्वसुरवात्मने । नाभेयाय जगद्धात्रे विधात्रेंऽतकारय च ॥ ५३ ॥

Transliteration

catuḥsanāya kūrmāya pṛthave svasuravātmane | nābheyāya jagaddhātre vidhātreṃ'takāraya ca || 53 ||

Translation

Hommage aux Quatre Kumāras (Catuḥsana); à Kūrma, l’Incarnation Tortue; à Pṛthu; au Soi qui est l’essence des dieux; à Nābhēya; au Soutien du monde; à Vidhātṛ, l’Ordonnateur; et aussi à Antakāra, l’Auteur de la fin.

Word by Word

• चतुः-सनाय: to the Four Sanas (Sanaka etc.) / to the one as the four sages
• चतुः-सनाय: सम्प्रदान (Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुः (प्रातिपदिक) + सन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; समासः—द्विगुः (चत्वारः सनाः/सनकादयः)

• कूर्माय: to Kūrma (the Tortoise)
• कूर्माय: सम्प्रदान (Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• पृथवे: to Pṛthu
• पृथवे: सम्प्रदान (Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• स्व-सुर-वत्-आत्मने: to the one whose self is like his own father-in-law (or like the gods)
• स्व-सुर-वत्-आत्मने: सम्प्रदान (Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + सुर (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; समासः—बहुव्रीहिः (स्वसुरवत् आत्मा यस्य)

• नाभेयाय: to Nābheya (son of Nābhi)
• नाभेयाय: सम्प्रदान (Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाभेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• जगत्-धात्रे: to the sustainer of the world
• जगत्-धात्रे: सम्प्रदान (Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक) + धातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (जगतः धाता/धारकः)

• विधात्रे: to the creator/ordainer
• विधात्रे: सम्प्रदान (Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• अन्तक-अरये: to the enemy of Antaka (Death)
• अन्तक-अरये: सम्प्रदान (Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तक (प्रातिपदिक) + अरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (अन्तकस्य अरिः)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Four Kumaras (Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanatkumara, Sanatsujata)
• Kurma
• Prithu
• Vidhatr
• Antakara
• Nabheya

FAQs

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

It is a devotional salutation that gathers multiple revered manifestations and cosmic functions—sustainer, ordainer, and end-maker—into a single act of remembrance, pointing to one Supreme reality honored through many names.

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

Bhakti is shown here as stuti and smaraṇa—reverent praise and mindful recollection—where the devotee bows to the Lord as avatāra (Kūrma), exemplary king (Pṛthu), and as the inner Self who upholds and dissolves the cosmos.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse models correct mantra-style invocation and name-sequencing (a practical aspect of chandas/prayoga), useful for ritual recitation and devotional liturgy, though no specific Vedanga like Jyotiṣa is directly taught in this line.