Shloka 1

The Description of the Glory of Dvādaśī

Devanagari script

पांतु वो जलदश्यामाः शार्ङ्गज्याघातकर्कशाः । त्रैलोक्यमंडपस्तंभाश्चत्वारो हरिबाहवः ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

pāṃtu vo jaladaśyāmāḥ śārṅgajyāghātakarkaśāḥ | trailokyamaṃḍapastaṃbhāścatvāro haribāhavaḥ || 1 ||

Translation

ຂໍໃຫ້ພະຫຣິຜູ້ມີບາຫຸສີ່ ປົກປ້ອງທ່ານທັງຫຼາຍ—ດຳຄ້ຳດັ່ງເມກຝົນ, ແຂງກ້າດ້ວຍແຮງສະທ້ອນຂອງສາຍຄັນທະນູ ຊາຣັງກະ, ແລະເປັນດັ່ງເສົາຄ້ຳມະນະດົບແຫ່ງສາມໂລກ.

Word by Word

• पान्तु: may (they) protect
• पान्तु: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (imperative/benedictive sense), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• वः: you (all)
• वः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी-रूप (genitive/dative) बहुवचन enclitic; here as object of protection (accusative-like usage in blessing): ‘you/your’

• जलदश्यामाः: dark as rain-clouds
• जलदश्यामाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जलद + श्याम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण of ‘हरिबाहवः’: ‘dark like a rain-cloud’

• शार्ङ्गज्याघातकर्कशाः: hardened by the удар/strike of Śārṅga’s bowstring
• शार्ङ्गज्याघातकर्कशाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शार्ङ्ग + ज्या + आघात + कर्कश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण of ‘हरिबाहवः’: ‘hard/rough due to the striking of the bowstring of Śārṅga’

• त्रैलोक्यमण्डपस्तम्भाः: pillars of the pavilion of the three worlds
• त्रैलोक्यमण्डपस्तम्भाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रैलोक्य + मण्डप + स्तम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुवचन-उपमा: ‘pillars of the pavilion of the three worlds’ (apposition to ‘हरिबाहवः’)

• चत्वारः: four
• चत्वारः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक विशेषण of ‘हरिबाहवः’

• हरिबाहवः: Hari’s arms
• हरिबाहवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि + बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘the arms of Hari’

Speaker

Suta (narratorial benediction invoking Vishnu at the start of Uttara-Bhaga)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

Secondary Rasa: vira (heroic)

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu)
• Śārṅga (Vishnu’s bow)

FAQs

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

It functions as a maṅgala (auspicious opening) invoking Hari’s protective power, presenting Vishnu as the cosmic support of the three worlds and establishing devotion as the safeguarding foundation for the text that follows.

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

By seeking refuge in Hari’s arms, the verse models śaraṇāgati (surrender): protection is requested not through personal power but through remembrance and praise of Vishnu’s form and strength.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Primarily alaṅkāra and stuti-style usage in sacred literature (connected with Chandas and Nirukta in practice): vivid metaphor—Vishnu’s arms as ‘pillars of the three worlds’—is used as a devotional teaching tool rather than a ritual instruction.