Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 48

Śuka’s Yoga-ascent, the Echo of ‘Bhoḥ’, and the Vaikuṇṭha Vision

Devanagari script

वक्षस्थलस्थया लक्ष्म्या कौस्तुभेन विराजितम् । कटीसूत्रब्रह्मसूत्रकटकांगदभूषितम् ॥ ४८ ॥

Transliteration

vakṣasthalasthayā lakṣmyā kaustubhena virājitam | kaṭīsūtrabrahmasūtrakaṭakāṃgadabhūṣitam || 48 ||

Translation

ତାଙ୍କ ବକ୍ଷସ୍ଥଳରେ ଅଧିଷ୍ଠିତ ଲକ୍ଷ୍ମୀ ଓ କୌସ୍ତୁଭ ମଣିରେ ସେ ଦୀପ୍ତିମାନ; କଟିସୂତ୍ର, ଯଜ୍ଞୋପବୀତ, କଟକ ଓ ଅଙ୍ଗଦ ଆଦି ଭୂଷଣରେ ଭୂଷିତ।

Word by Word

• वक्षःस्थल-स्थया: by (Lakṣmī) situated on the chest
• वक्षःस्थल-स्थया: Karaṇa (करणम् / Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वक्षःस्थल (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (वक्षःस्थले स्थिता)

• लक्ष्म्या: by Lakṣmī
• लक्ष्म्या: Karaṇa (करणम् / Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• कौस्तुभेन: by the Kaustubha gem
• कौस्तुभेन: Karaṇa (करणम् / Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौस्तुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• विराजितम्: adorned, shining
• विराजितम्: Karma (कर्म / Object)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि√राज् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः भूतकर्मणि), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (adorned/illuminated)

• कटी-सूत्र-ब्रह्म-सूत्र-कटक-अङ्गद-भूषितम्: adorned with waist-cord, sacred thread, bracelets, and armlets
• कटी-सूत्र-ब्रह्म-सूत्र-कटक-अङ्गद-भूषितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कटी (प्रातिपदिक) + सूत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + ब्रह्म (प्रातिपदिक) + सूत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + कटक (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्गद (प्रातिपदिक) + भूषित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व/समुच्चयार्थ-समासः (कटीसूत्रादिभिः भूषितः)

Speaker

Narada (in instruction/dialogue context with Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)

Secondary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Lakshmi
• Kaustubha

FAQs

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

The verse guides dhyāna (meditative visualization) by describing Viṣṇu’s auspicious form—Lakṣmī on His chest and the Kaustubha jewel—signifying inseparable divine grace (śrī) and supreme sovereignty, which supports mokṣa-oriented devotion.

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

By offering concrete attributes of the Lord’s form, it enables focused remembrance (smaraṇa) and loving contemplation (dhyāna), a core bhakti practice in Mokṣa Dharma that steadies the mind on Viṣṇu as the refuge endowed with Śrī.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It implicitly reflects ritual-culture and dharmic symbolism through the yajñopavīta (brahma-sūtra, sacred thread), pointing to Vedic observance and purity disciplines that traditionally accompany worship and mantra-based meditation.