The Greatness of Viṣṇu
Uttaṅka’s Hymn, Hari’s Manifestation, and the Boon of Bhakti
उत्तङ्क उवाच । नतोऽस्मि नारायणमादिदेवं जगन्निवासं जगदेकबन्धुम् । चक्राब्जशार्ङ्गासिधरं महान्तं स्मृतार्तिनिघ्नं शरणं प्रपद्ये ॥ ३ ॥
uttaṅka uvāca | nato'smi nārāyaṇamādidevaṃ jagannivāsaṃ jagadekabandhum | cakrābjaśārṅgāsidharaṃ mahāntaṃ smṛtārtinighnaṃ śaraṇaṃ prapadye || 3 ||
Uttaṅka dit : Je me prosterne devant Nārāyaṇa, le Seigneur primordial, demeure de l’univers et unique parent de tous les mondes ; le Grand qui porte le disque, le lotus, l’arc Śārṅga et l’épée. Lui qui dissipe la détresse de ceux qui se souviennent de Lui, en Lui je prends refuge.
Uttaṅka
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
It presents Nārāyaṇa as the primordial refuge of all beings and emphasizes that sincere remembrance (smaraṇa) of Him destroys affliction, making surrender (śaraṇāgati) the core spiritual act.
Bhakti is shown through praise, bowing, and taking refuge in Nārāyaṇa; the verse highlights smaraṇa-bhakti—remembering the Lord—as a direct means for relief from suffering and spiritual protection.
The verse primarily functions as stuti (devotional praise) rather than a Vedāṅga instruction; practically, it models correct mantra-style eulogy (proper epithets and attributes) used in pūjā and recitation within Purāṇic devotion.