Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 33

Mokṣopāya: Bhakti-rooted Jñāna and the Aṣṭāṅga Yoga of Viṣṇu-Meditation

Devanagari script

द्विजभूम्यग्निसूर्याम्बुधातुहृञ्चित्रसंज्ञिताः । प्रतिमाः केशवस्यैता पूज्य एतासु भक्तितः ॥ ३३ ॥

Transliteration

dvijabhūmyagnisūryāmbudhātuhṛñcitrasaṃjñitāḥ | pratimāḥ keśavasyaitā pūjya etāsu bhaktitaḥ || 33 ||

Translation

As imagens sagradas (pratimā) de Keśava são conhecidas pelos nomes: Dvija, Bhūmi, Agni, Sūrya, Ambu, Dhātu, Hṛt e Citra. Nestas formas, Ele deve ser adorado com bhakti, devoção.

Word by Word

• द्विज-भूमि-अग्नि-सूर्य-अम्बु-धातु-हृत्-चित्र-संज्ञिताः: designated by (the names) ‘dvija, earth, fire, sun, water, metal, heart, picture’
• द्विज-भूमि-अग्नि-सूर्य-अम्बु-धातु-हृत्-चित्र-संज्ञिताः: विशेषण (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्विज + भूमि + अग्नि + सूर्य + अम्बु + धातु + हृत् + चित्र + संज्ञित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-आधारित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; बहुपद-समासः, विशेषणम् (qualifier)

• प्रतिमाः: images, icons
• प्रतिमाः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• केशवस्य: of Keśava
• केशवस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• एताः: these
• एताः: विशेषण (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम, प्रतिमाः इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• पूज्याः: to be worshipped
• पूज्याः: विधेय-विशेषण (Predicate adjective/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूज्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √पूज्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्मणि-भावे भाव्य/योग्य (gerundive: ‘to be worshipped’)

• एतासु: among these (images)
• एतासु: अधिकरण (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; ‘in/among these’

• भक्तितः: with devotion; out of devotion
• भक्तितः: हेतु (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb) = ‘from/through devotion, devoutly’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a dialogue on Vishnu worship)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Keśava
• Viṣṇu

FAQs

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

It affirms that Keśava can be approached through multiple named icon-forms, and that the decisive principle of worship is bhakti—devotional intent—rather than mere external form.

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

By stating ‘pūjyā etāsu bhaktitaḥ,’ it emphasizes that worship becomes effective when performed with devotion, making bhakti the core qualification for honoring Keśava in any sanctioned form.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual application (kalpa-style practice) is implied: the verse functions as a classificatory rule for pratimā-upāsanā, guiding how icons are identified and ritually approached in Vaiṣṇava worship.