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Shloka 3

Nārada’s Journey to Śvetadvīpa and the Means of Attaining the Lord through the Pañcarātra

श्वेतद्वीपं गतः पूर्वं नारदः किल पार्थिव । सोऽपश्यच्छङ्खचक्राब्जान् पुरुषांस्तिग्मतेजसः ॥ ६६.३ ॥

śvetadvīpaṃ gataḥ pūrvaṃ nāradaḥ kila pārthiva | so 'paśyac chaṅkhacakrābjān puruṣāṃs tigmatejasaḥ || 66.3 ||

पार्थिव, पूर्वं नारदः किल श्वेतद्वीपं गतः; तत्र स शङ्खचक्राब्जधारिणः पुरुषान् तिग्मतेजसोऽपश्यत् ॥

श्वेतद्वीपम्to the White Island (Śvetadvīpa)
श्वेतद्वीपम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootश्वेत + द्वीप (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (श्वेतः द्वीपः)
गतःwent / having gone
गतः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeVerb
Rootगम् (धातु)
Formक्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (भूतकर्मणि/भूतकालिक), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगः (gone)
पूर्वम्formerly / earlier
पूर्वम्:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
Formअव्यय (कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण)
नारदःNārada
नारदः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootनारद (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
किलindeed / it is said
किल:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootकिल (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय (निपात; प्रसिद्ध्यर्थ/श्रुत्यर्थ)
पार्थिवO king
पार्थिव:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
TypeNoun
Rootपार्थिव (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन
सःhe
सः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (सर्वनाम)
अपश्यत्saw
अपश्यत्:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootदृश् (धातु)
Formलङ्-लकार (अनद्यतनभूत), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
शङ्खचक्राब्जान्bearing conch, discus, and lotus
शङ्खचक्राब्जान्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootशङ्ख + चक्र + अब्ज (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः द्वन्द्वः (शङ्ख-चक्र-अब्ज-धारिणः इत्यर्थे)
पुरुषान्persons / beings
पुरुषान्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootपुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन
तिग्मतेजसःof sharp/brilliant radiance
तिग्मतेजसः:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootतिग्म + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (तिग्मं तेजः यस्य)

Varāha (default framework; explicit speaker not stated in excerpt)

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false,"aspect_highlighted":"None","boar_form_detail":"None","earth_interaction":"None"}

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":false,"speaker_role":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"None","key_question":"None"}

Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false,"specific_site":"Śvetadvīpa (not Mathurā)","parikrama_context":"None","krishna_connection":"Iconography (śaṅkha-cakra-padma) is shared by Krishna/Vāsudeva traditions; this verse supports Vaiṣṇava identity markers later prominent in Mathurā, but no direct foreshadowing narrative is stated."}

Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":false,"topic":"None","instruction_summary":"None","karmic_consequence":"None"}

Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false,"vrata_name":"None","tithi_month":"None","promised_fruit":"None"}

Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false,"symbolic_interpretation":"None","yajna_varaha_imagery":"None","vedantic_connection":"None"}

Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"bhakti-epistemology / darśana","core_concept":"Divine reality can be ‘seen’ (darśana) in purified realms/conditions; iconographic marks (śaṅkha-cakra-padma) signify alignment with the Lord’s śakti and protection.","practical_application":"Contemplate and internalize Vaiṣṇava symbols as supports for remembrance; seek purity of conduct and mind that makes ‘darśana’ possible (metaphorically and devotionally)."}

Subject Matter: ["Sacred Geography","Cosmology","Vaishnava Iconography","Narrative Transmission"]

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Type: cosmic island/otherworldly sacred realm

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 66.66.2 (Janārdana’s marvels as frame for this vision)

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Nārada arriving at luminous Śvetadvīpa, beholding radiant, keen-splendored beings holding conch, discus, and lotus; the scene glows with white-gold light and serene oceanic expanse.","item_prompts":["Nārada with vīṇā","white island landscape and shining sea","radiant attendants","śaṅkha (conch)","cakra (discus)","padma (lotus)","aura/light rays"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: high-contrast radiant figures with bold halos; Nārada at edge with vīṇā; stylized ocean and white island motifs.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: heavy gold-leaf halos and ornaments on attendants; embossed śaṅkha-cakra-padma; luminous white background with rich borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: elegant, detailed iconography; soft gradations to convey ‘tigma-tejas’; serene composition with refined jewelry and textiles.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: delicate, airy celestial landscape; attendants in bright garments with clear emblems; Nārada small but expressive, vīṇā prominent."}

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"visionary, luminous, devotional awe","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium-slow","voice_tone":"bright, ringing, contemplative"}

C
Classical Literature
P
Purāṇic Narrative
V
Vaishnavism
A
Ancient Geography

FAQs

It preserves a Purāṇic motif in which Nārada functions as a trans-regional witness, linking terrestrial kingship discourse to a cosmological sacred geography (Śvetadvīpa) and transmitting iconographic norms associated with Viṣṇu-oriented traditions.

Śvetadvīpa (“White Island”) is named; in Purāṇic cosmography it denotes a transcendent or otherworldly island/realm rather than a securely mappable terrestrial site, though it is discussed in comparative scholarship alongside other dvīpa schemata.

The verse primarily conveys descriptive sacred geography and the recognition of exemplary, radiant figures; any ethical implication is indirect—valuing disciplined perception and authoritative transmission (seeing and reporting sacred exemplars) within the narrative frame.