Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 69

Vāmana’s Advent, Aditi’s Hymn, Bali’s Gift, and the Mahatmya of Bhū-dāna

Devanagari script

शङ्गचक्रधरं शान्तं चन्द्रमण्डलमध्यगम् । सुधाकलशदध्यन्नकरं वामनसंज्ञितम् ॥ ६९ ॥

Transliteration

śaṅgacakradharaṃ śāntaṃ candramaṇḍalamadhyagam | sudhākalaśadadhyannakaraṃ vāmanasaṃjñitam || 69 ||

Translation

അവൻ ശാന്തസ്വരൂപൻ, ശംഖചക്രധാരി, ചന്ദ്രമണ്ഡലത്തിന്റെ മദ്ധ്യത്തിൽ വസിക്കുന്നവൻ; കൈകളിൽ അമൃതകലശവും ദധ്യന്നപാത്രവും ധരിച്ചവൻ—ഈ രൂപം ‘വാമനൻ’ എന്ന നാമത്തിൽ പ്രസിദ്ധം।

Word by Word

• शङ्ख-चक्र-धरम्: bearing conch and discus
• शङ्ख-चक्र-धरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक) + चक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (धृ-धातु, अच्/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (शङ्खं च चक्रं च धरति)

• शान्तम्: peaceful
• शान्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त (शम्-धातु, क्त/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• चन्द्र-मण्डल-मध्य-गम्: situated in the middle of the lunar orb
• चन्द्र-मण्डल-मध्य-गम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक) + मध्य (प्रातिपदिक) + ग (गम्-धातु, क्विप्/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (चन्द्रमण्डलस्य मध्ये गः)

• सुधा-कलश-दधि-अन्न-करम्: holding a pot of nectar, curd and food (in his hands)
• सुधा-कलश-दधि-अन्न-करम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुधा (प्रातिपदिक) + कलश (प्रातिपदिक) + दधि (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (सुधाकलशं दध्यन्नं च करयोः यस्य)

• वामन-संज्ञितम्: named Vāmana
• वामन-संज्ञितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वामन (प्रातिपदिक) + संज्ञित (संज्ञा-धातु/√ज्ञा with सम्, क्त/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (वामन इति संज्ञितः)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Vamana

FAQs

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

The verse gives a dhyāna-lakṣaṇa (meditative iconography) of Vishnu as Vāmana, teaching that calm contemplation of the Lord’s distinct attributes—conch, discus, and auspicious offerings—stabilizes the mind and supports devotion-oriented liberation.

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

Bhakti here is practiced as upāsanā through form-based remembrance: visualizing Vishnu’s peaceful presence and sacred emblems, and relating to him through offerings (food/nectar), which turns worship into continuous loving recollection.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects practical ritual and iconographic knowledge used in pūjā—how to identify a deity-form by emblems and hand-held items—supporting correct application of mantra, offering (naivedya), and meditative visualization.