Shloka 18

The Greatness of Puruṣottama

Goloka-tattva and Rādhā–Kṛṣṇa Upāsanā

Devanagari script

सकृत्तु ब्रह्मणा दृष्टं देवि रूपं चतुर्भुजम् । सृष्टिकार्यप्रमुग्धेन दर्शितं कृपया स्वयम् ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

sakṛttu brahmaṇā dṛṣṭaṃ devi rūpaṃ caturbhujam | sṛṣṭikāryapramugdhena darśitaṃ kṛpayā svayam || 18 ||

Translation

ໂອ ເທວີ, ຄັ້ງໜຶ່ງ ພຣະພຣະຫມາໄດ້ເຫັນຮູບສີ່ພຣະຫັດ; ພຣະອົງໄດ້ຖືກສະແດງໃຫ້ເຫັນໂດຍພຣະອົງເອງດ້ວຍຄວາມເມດຕາ, ໃນຍາມທີ່ທ່ານສັບສົນກ່ຽວກັບພາລະກິດແຫ່ງການສ້າງ.

Word by Word

• सकृत्: once
• सकृत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सकृत् (अव्यय)
• Form: संख्यावृत्तिवाचक-अव्यय (once)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle)

• ब्रह्मणा: by Brahma
• ब्रह्मणा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental), एकवचनम्

• दृष्टम्: was seen
• दृष्टम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: भूत-कृदन्तः क्त-प्रत्ययः (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• देवि: O goddess
• देवि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• रूपम्: form
• रूपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• चतुर्भुजम्: four-armed
• चतुर्भुजम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + भुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; बहुव्रीहिः

• सृष्टि-कार्य-प्रमुग्धेन: by (him) bewildered about the work of creation
• सृष्टि-कार्य-प्रमुग्धेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक) + कार्य (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रमुग्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (sṛṣṭi-kāryeṇa pramugdhaḥ)

• दर्शितम्: was shown
• दर्शितम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: भूत-कृदन्तः क्त-प्रत्ययः (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• कृपया: by compassion
• कृपया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृपा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental), एकवचनम्

• स्वयम्: personally / by himself
• स्वयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: आत्मवाचक-अव्यय (reflexive adverb: oneself)

Speaker

Narada (narrating within the Uttara-Bhaga discourse, traditionally framed as Narada teaching the Sanatkumara brothers)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna (compassion)

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Devi

FAQs

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

It teaches that divine revelation (darśana) arises from compassion (kṛpā): when even Brahmā is confused about cosmic duty, the Goddess personally discloses her form to guide and stabilize dharma-driven action.

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

Bhakti is implied as grace-centered: the deity is not only approached by effort but also responds mercifully, granting vision and clarity when the devotee (or cosmic agent) is overwhelmed by responsibility.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is ritual-theological—successful karma (including sṛṣṭi-kārya or any ordained duty) depends on divine sanction and right understanding, not mere procedure.