Shloka 49

Puruṣottama-kṣetra Māhātmya: Śveta-Mādhava & Matsya-Mādhava; Mārkaṇḍeya-tīrtha Mārjana and Bath Liturgy

Devanagari script

पश्चिमे श्रीधरो देवः केशवस्तु तथोत्तरे । पातु विष्णुस्तथाग्नेये नैर्ऋते माधवोऽव्ययः ॥ ४९ ॥

Transliteration

paścime śrīdharo devaḥ keśavastu tathottare | pātu viṣṇustathāgneye nairṛte mādhavo'vyayaḥ || 49 ||

Translation

На западе пусть хранит меня божественный Шридхара; и на севере — также Кешава. На юго-востоке пусть хранит меня Вишну; а на юго-западе пусть хранит меня непреходящий Мадхава.

Word by Word

• पश्चिमे: in the west
• पश्चिमे: अधिकरण (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पश्चिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (पश्चिमम्), सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; दिशि प्रयोगः

• श्रीधरः: Śrīdhara
• श्रीधरः: कर्ता (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीधर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• देवः: the god
• देवः: कर्ता (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; श्रीधरस्य विशेषण/अप्पोजिशन

• केशवः: Keśava
• केशवः: कर्ता (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• तु: and/indeed
• तु: निपातार्थ (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विशेष-निपात (particle)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: ‘likewise’)

• उत्तरे: in the north
• उत्तरे: अधिकरण (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (उत्तरम्), सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; दिशि प्रयोगः

• पातु: may (he) protect
• पातु: क्रिया (क्रियापद)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), परस्मैपदी, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: कर्ता (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• आग्नेये: in the southeast (Agni’s direction)
• आग्नेये: अधिकरण (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आग्नेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (आग्नेयम्), सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; ईशान्यादि-दिशि (southeast)

• नैर्ऋते: in the southwest (Nirṛti’s direction)
• नैर्ऋते: अधिकरण (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैर्ऋत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (नैर्ऋतम्), सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; नैऋति-दिशि (southwest)

• माधवः: Mādhava
• माधवः: कर्ता (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माधव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• अव्ययः: imperishable
• अव्ययः: कर्ता-विशेषण (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (माधवस्य)

Speaker

Suta (narrating the Narada Purana dialogue tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shridhara
• Keshava
• Madhava

FAQs

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

It teaches dik-rakṣā (directional safeguarding) by invoking specific names of Viṣṇu in particular quarters, affirming that the Lord’s presence pervades space and protects the devotee everywhere.

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

Bhakti here is practiced as remembrance (smaraṇa) and verbal praise (stuti): the devotee calls the Lord by intimate, theologically loaded names (Śrīdhara, Keśava, Mādhava), turning protection into continuous God-consciousness.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects ritual directionality (dik-viniyoga) used in prayoga—placing mantras in specific directions (SE/Agni, SW/Nirṛti, etc.), a practical component of kalpa-style ritual procedure rather than grammar or astrology.