Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 57

Gṛhastha-nitya-karman: Śauca, Sandhyā-vidhi, Pañca-yajña, and Āśrama-krama

Devanagari script

ध्येया सा च सरस्वती भगवती पीतांबरालंकृता श्यामा श्यामतनुर्जरोपरिलसद्गात्रांचिता वैष्णवी । तार्क्ष्यस्था मणिनूपुरांगदलसद्ग्रैवेयभूषोज्ज्वला हस्तालंकृतशंखचक्रसुगदापद्मा श्रियै चास्तु नः ॥ ५७ ॥

Transliteration

dhyeyā sā ca sarasvatī bhagavatī pītāṃbarālaṃkṛtā śyāmā śyāmatanurjaroparilasadgātrāṃcitā vaiṣṇavī | tārkṣyasthā maṇinūpurāṃgadalasadgraiveyabhūṣojjvalā hastālaṃkṛtaśaṃkhacakrasugadāpadmā śriyai cāstu naḥ || 57 ||

Translation

ପୀତାମ୍ବରରେ ଅଳଙ୍କୃତ, ଶ୍ୟାମବର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଶ୍ୟାମତନୁ, ଅଙ୍ଗମାନେ ଜରାର ଦୀପ୍ତ ଚିହ୍ନ ଧାରଣ କରି, ବୈଷ୍ଣବୀ ସ୍ୱଭାବରେ ସ୍ଥିତ—ସେଇ ଭଗବତୀ ସରସ୍ୱତୀ ଧ୍ୟାନଯୋଗ୍ୟା। ଗରୁଡ଼ାସୀନା, ମଣିନୂପୁର ଓ ଅଙ୍ଗ-ଗ୍ରୀବାଭୂଷଣର ଉଜ୍ଜ୍ୱଳ କାନ୍ତିରେ ଦୀପ୍ତ; ହସ୍ତେ ଶଙ୍ଖ, ଚକ୍ର, ଗଦା ଓ ପଦ୍ମ ଧାରିଣୀ—ସେ ଆମ ପାଇଁ ଶ୍ରୀ ଓ ସୌଭାଗ୍ୟ ହେଉନ୍ତୁ।

Word by Word

• dhyeyā: To be meditated upon
• dhyeyā: Visheshana (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhyai (ध्यै)
• Form: Gerundive, Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• sā: She
• sā: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद्)
• Form: Pronoun, Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• ca: And
• ca: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (च)
• Form: Conjunction

• sarasvatī: Sarasvati
• sarasvatī: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarasvatī (सरस्वती)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• bhagavatī: Divine/Goddess
• bhagavatī: Visheshana (Adjective)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavatī (भगवती)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• pītāmbarālaṃkṛtā: Adorned with yellow garments
• pītāmbarālaṃkṛtā: Visheshana (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pītāmbarālaṃkṛtā (पीताम्बरालङ्कृता)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• śyāmā: Dark/Blue-black
• śyāmā: Visheshana (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śyāmā (श्यामा)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• śyāmatanuḥ: Dark-bodied
• śyāmatanuḥ: Visheshana (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śyāmatanu (श्यामतनु)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• jaroparilasadgātrāñcitā: Distinguished by limbs shining above decay (or clouds/water)
• jaroparilasadgātrāñcitā: Visheshana (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jaroparilasadgātrāñcitā (जरोपरिलसद्गात्राञ्चिता)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• vaiṣṇavī: Vaishnavi (Shakti of Vishnu)
• vaiṣṇavī: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaiṣṇavī (वैष्णवी)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• tārkṣyasthā: Standing/Seated on Garuda
• tārkṣyasthā: Visheshana (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tārkṣyasthā (तार्क्ष्यस्था)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• maṇinūpurāṅgadalasadgraiveyabhūṣojjvalā: Resplendent with jewel anklets, armlets, and shining neck ornaments
• maṇinūpurāṅgadalasadgraiveyabhūṣojjvalā: Visheshana (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: maṇinūpurāṅgadalasadgraiveyabhūṣojjvalā (मणिनूपुराङ्गदलसद्ग्रैवेयभूषोज्ज्वला)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• hastālaṃkṛtaśaṃkhacakrasugadāpadmā: Whose hands are adorned with conch, discus, mace, and lotus
• hastālaṃkṛtaśaṃkhacakrasugadāpadmā: Visheshana (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hastālaṃkṛtaśaṃkhacakrasugadāpadmā (हस्तालङ्कृतशङ्खचक्रसुगदापद्मा)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• śriyai: For prosperity/glory
• śriyai: Prayojana (Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (श्री)
• Form: Feminine, Dative, Singular

• ca: And
• ca: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (च)
• Form: Conjunction

• astu: Let it be
• astu: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (अस्)
• Form: Lot Lakara (Imperative), Parasmaipada, Prathama Purusha, Singular

• naḥ: For us
• naḥ: Sampradana (Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद्)
• Form: Pronoun, Dative, Plural

Speaker

Narada (within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Sarasvati
• Vishnu
• Vaishnavi
• Garuḍa (Tārkṣya)
• Shankha
• Chakra
• Gada
• Padma
• Shri (prosperity)

FAQs

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

It functions as a dhyāna-śloka: the devotee is instructed to visualize Sarasvatī as a Vaishnava Goddess, integrating wisdom (Sarasvatī) with Vishnu-centered protection and auspiciousness (śrī).

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

Bhakti here is practiced through focused remembrance (smaraṇa/dhyāna) using sacred iconography—Garuḍa, conch, discus, mace, and lotus—so the mind rests steadily on the Divine and receives śrī (well-being and grace).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse primarily highlights ritual-application knowledge: dhyāna as a preparatory limb of worship (upāsanā) where precise form-description supports mantra-japa and pūjā; it is more aligned with prayoga (ritual procedure) than with technical Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa details.