Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 124

Kṛṣṇādi-mantra-varga-varṇana

Classification of Krishna and Related Mantras

Devanagari script

एवं ध्यात्वा र्चयेत्पीठे वैष्णवे सुसमाहितः । आद्यावरणसंगैः स्याच्चक्रशंखगदासिभिः ॥ १२४ ॥

Transliteration

evaṃ dhyātvā rcayetpīṭhe vaiṣṇave susamāhitaḥ | ādyāvaraṇasaṃgaiḥ syāccakraśaṃkhagadāsibhiḥ || 124 ||

Translation

Tendo assim meditado, com plena concentração deve-se adorar sobre o pīṭha vaiṣṇava. Que o primeiro āvaraṇa seja acompanhado pelos emblemas: disco (cakra), concha (śaṅkha), maça (gadā) e espada (asi).

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: अव्यय (manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb), अव्यय

• ध्यात्वा: having meditated
• ध्यात्वा: पूर्वकाल (prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु) → ध्यात्वा (कृदन्त, त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/absolutive), अव्यय; पूर्वक्रिया

• अर्चयेत्: should worship
• अर्चयेत्: विधेय (Predicate action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पीठे: on the pedestal/seat
• पीठे: अधिकरण (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पीठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• वैष्णवे: Vaiṣṇava (of Viṣṇu)
• वैष्णवे: अधिकरण (locative qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैष्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (पीठे इति)

• सु-समाहितः: well-composed, well-concentrated
• सु-समाहितः: कर्ता (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (अव्यय-उपसर्ग) + समाहित (प्रातिपदिक; √धा)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (कर्तृ)

• आद्य-आवरण-संगैः: with the groups of the first enclosure
• आद्य-आवरण-संगैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आद्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आवरण (प्रातिपदिक) + संग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (आद्यस्य आवरणस्य संगाः)

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: विधेय (copula/‘should be’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• चक्र-शंख-गदा-असिभिः: with discus, conch, mace, and swords
• चक्र-शंख-गदा-असिभिः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + शंख (प्रातिपदिक) + गदा (प्रातिपदिक) + असि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः (चक्रश्च शंखश्च गदाश्च असयश्च)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Sudarshana Chakra
• Panchajanya (Shankha)
• Kaumodaki (Gada)
• Nandaka (Sword)

FAQs

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

It teaches that worship (arcana) must begin from inner absorption (dhyāna) and then be expressed through a properly ordered sacred layout (pīṭha and āvaraṇa), centering the mind on Viṣṇu’s protective divine symbols.

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

Bhakti here is disciplined and focused: the devotee meditates first, then performs worship with steady attention, honoring Viṣṇu through His identifying emblems, which function as tangible supports for loving remembrance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual procedure (kalpa-style arcana-vidhi) is emphasized—how to structure worship using a pīṭha and āvaraṇa arrangement, integrating visualization and iconographic placement as a precise, repeatable method.