Shloka 34

The Greatness of Puruṣottama

Goloka-tattva and Rādhā–Kṛṣṇa Upāsanā

Devanagari script

शिवमेवं वदंत्येके राधारूपं समाश्रितम् । कृष्णवक्षःस्थलस्थानं तयोर्भेदो न लक्ष्यते ॥ ३४ ॥

Transliteration

śivamevaṃ vadaṃtyeke rādhārūpaṃ samāśritam | kṛṣṇavakṣaḥsthalasthānaṃ tayorbhedo na lakṣyate || 34 ||

Translation

ບາງຄົນກ່າວວ່າ ພຣະສິວະແທ້ໆເປັນຢ່າງນັ້ນ—ຮັບຮູບເປັນຣາທາ ແລະສະຖິດຢູ່ເທິງອົງອົກຂອງພຣະກຣິສນະ; ຄວາມແຕກຕ່າງລະຫວ່າງສອງພຣະອົງບໍ່ປາກົດເຫັນ।

Word by Word

• शिवम्: Śiva (as object/that which is spoken of)
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• वदन्ति: say
• वदन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• एके: some (people)
• एके: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), बहुवचन; सर्वनामवत् प्रयोग (some)

• राधा-रूपम्: the form of Rādhā
• राधा-रूपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राधा (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (राधायाः रूपम्)

• समाश्रितम्: having assumed / resorted to
• समाश्रितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-आ-श्रि (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘आश्रित’ = having resorted to/assumed

• कृष्ण-वक्षःस्थल-स्थानम्: the place on Krishna’s chest
• कृष्ण-वक्षःस्थल-स्थानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + वक्षःस्थल (प्रातिपदिक; वक्षस्+स्थल) + स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता/विषय), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (कृष्णस्य वक्षःस्थले स्थानम्)

• तयोः: of the two (of them)
• तयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), द्विवचन

• भेदः: difference
• भेदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• लक्ष्यते: is perceived / is seen
• लक्ष्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense)

Speaker

Narada (as narrator within the Uttara-Bhaga’s Mahatmya discourse; presented as a received view: 'some say')

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Radha
• Krishna

FAQs

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

It highlights a devotional and theological vision where sectarian divisions dissolve: Śiva is spoken of as united with Rādhā–Kṛṣṇa, implying an underlying oneness in divine reality as experienced through bhakti.

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

By presenting intimate union—Rādhā’s presence on Kṛṣṇa’s chest and Śiva’s association with that form—it emphasizes loving identification and reverence, encouraging devotees to see the Lord’s companions and devotees (and even other deities) as harmonized in Kṛṣṇa-bhakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga technique is taught in this verse; its practical takeaway is interpretive (nirukta-style meaning) and devotional theology—how to understand deity-identity statements within Purāṇic discourse.