Shloka 16

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

Devanagari script

आधाय तरुणं रूपं माधवं मत्स्यमाधवम् । प्रणम्य प्रयतो भूत्वा सर्वान्कष्टान्विमुंचति ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

ādhāya taruṇaṃ rūpaṃ mādhavaṃ matsyamādhavam | praṇamya prayato bhūtvā sarvānkaṣṭānvimuṃcati || 16 ||

Translation

माधवस्य तरुणं रूपं मत्स्यमाधवमेव च मनसाधाय, प्रयतः सन् प्रणम्य, सर्वकष्टान् विमुञ्चति ॥

Word by Word

• आधाय: having assumed/taken up
• आधाय: पूर्वकाल (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वक्रिया

• तरुणम्: youthful
• तरुणम्: कर्म-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तरुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘रूपम्’ इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• रूपम्: form
• रूपम्: कर्म (द्वितीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• माधवम्: Mādhava (Vishnu)
• माधवम्: कर्म (द्वितीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माधव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विष्णोः नाम

• मत्स्यमाधवम्: Mādhava as Matsya (Fish-incarnation)
• मत्स्यमाधवम्: कर्म (द्वितीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत्स्य (प्रातिपदिक) + माधव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘मत्स्यरूपो माधवः’

• प्रणम्य: having bowed
• प्रणम्य: पूर्वकाल (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वक्रिया

• प्रयतः: self-controlled/attentive
• प्रयतः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रयत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्तरि विशेषणम्

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: पूर्वकाल (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वक्रिया

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: कर्म-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; ‘कष्टान्’ इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• कष्टान्: difficulties/afflictions
• कष्टान्: कर्म (द्वितीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• विमुञ्चति: releases/gets rid of
• विमुञ्चति: क्रिया (मुख्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a mahatmya/devotional instruction frame; traditional dialogue attribution within Narada Purana)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Madhava
• Matsya (incarnation of Vishnu)

FAQs

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

It teaches that focused contemplation (dhyāna) on Vishnu’s auspicious form—specifically Mādhava as Matsya—combined with humble prostration and inner discipline, becomes a direct means to overcome suffering and obstacles.

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

Bhakti is expressed here as form-based devotion (saguṇa-upāsanā): remembering the deity’s form, offering reverence (praṇāma), and living with restraint (prayata). The fruit described is practical and immediate—freedom from kaṣṭa (distress).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes sādhana-prayoga (practical discipline) rather than a specific Vedāṅga: mental placement/meditation (ādhāya) and regulated conduct (prayata) as the applied method of worship.