Shloka 8

Puruṣottama-kṣetra Māhātmya: Śveta-Mādhava & Matsya-Mādhava; Mārkaṇḍeya-tīrtha Mārjana and Bath Liturgy

Devanagari script

शंखगोक्षीरसंकाशामशेषाघविनाशिनीम् । तां प्रणम्य सकृद्भक्त्या पुंडरीकनिभेक्षणाम् ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

śaṃkhagokṣīrasaṃkāśāmaśeṣāghavināśinīm | tāṃ praṇamya sakṛdbhaktyā puṃḍarīkanibhekṣaṇām || 8 ||

Translation

શંખ અને ગૌક્ષીર સમાન તેજસ્વી, સર્વ પાપનો નાશ કરનારી, પુંડરીક સમ નેત્રવાળી દેવીને જે ભક્તિથી એકવાર પણ પ્રણામ કરે, તે અહીં જ પવિત્ર થાય છે।

Word by Word

• शंख-गो-क्षीर-संकाशाम्: white like conch and cow’s milk
• शंख-गो-क्षीर-संकाशाम्: विशेषण (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शंख + गो + क्षीर + संकाशा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘शंखस्य गोक्षीरस्य च संकाशा’ (like conch and cow’s milk—white) qualifying ताम्/प्रतिमाम्

• अशेष-अघ-विनाशिनीम्: destroying all sins
• अशेष-अघ-विनाशिनीम्: विशेषण (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशेष + अघ + विनाशिनी (प्रातिपदिक; विनाशिन्-स्त्री)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘अशेषाणि अघानि विनाशयति’ (destroyer of all sins)

• ताम्: that (her/that image)
• ताम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun referring to the image

• प्रणम्य: having bowed
• प्रणम्य: पूर्वकाल (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्र-नम् (धातु) → प्रणम्य (कृदन्त, ल्यप्/क्त्वा-समकक्ष)
• Form: ल्यबन्त अव्यय (gerund); ‘having bowed’

• सकृत्: once
• सकृत्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सकृत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/परिमाण-क्रियाविशेषण; ‘once’

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; instrumental ‘with devotion’

• पुण्डरीक-निभ-ईक्षणाम्: lotus-eyed
• पुण्डरीक-निभ-ईक्षणाम्: विशेषण (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्डरीक + निभ + ईक्षणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘पुण्डरीकनिभे ईक्षणे यस्याः’ (lotus-like-eyed)

Speaker

Narada (narrative voice within the Tirtha-Mahatmya section; traditional dialogue frame with Sanatkumara lineage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Devi (Goddess)
• Lakshmi (implied by lotus-eyed epithet)

FAQs

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

It teaches that sincere devotion expressed even once through reverent prostration to the radiant, lotus-eyed Goddess has purificatory power and is described as capable of destroying sin (agha).

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

Bhakti is presented as accessible and effective: not elaborate austerities, but heartfelt surrender—‘sakṛd bhaktyā’ (even once, with devotion)—is emphasized as spiritually transformative.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga technique is taught in this verse; it primarily functions as stuti within a Mahatmya, highlighting the practical discipline of devotional act (praṇāma) as a purifying rite.