Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 67

The Greatness of Viṣṇu

Viṣṇor Māhātmya

Devanagari script

शालग्रामशिलारूपी यत्र तिष्ठति केशवः । न बाधन्ते ग्रहास्तत्र भूतवेतालकादयः ॥ ६७ ॥

Transliteration

śālagrāmaśilārūpī yatra tiṣṭhati keśavaḥ | na bādhante grahāstatra bhūtavetālakādayaḥ || 67 ||

Translation

శాలగ్రామశిలారూపంగా కేశవుడు యెక్కడ నివసించునో, అక్కడ గ్రహదోషాలు బాధించవు; భూతవేతాళాదులు కూడా హాని చేయరు।

Word by Word

• śālagrāma-śilā-rūpī: having the form of a Śālagrāma stone
• śālagrāma-śilā-rūpī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of kartā
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śālagrāma (प्रातिपदिक) + śilā (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Prathamā (Nominative, 1st), Ekavacana (Singular); विशेषण (adjective)

• yatra: where
• yatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; deśavācaka avyaya (locative adverb: 'where')

• tiṣṭhati: stands/abides
• tiṣṭhati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (धाातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana (Singular); parasmaipada

• keśavaḥ: Keśava (Viṣṇu)
• keśavaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: keśava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Prathamā (Nominative, 1st), Ekavacana (Singular)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; niṣedha-particle (negation)

• bādhante: afflict/harass
• bādhante: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bādh (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Bahuvacana (Plural); ātmanepada

• grahāḥ: seizing spirits/evil influences (grahas)
• grahāḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: graha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Prathamā (Nominative, 1st), Bahuvacana (Plural)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; deśavācaka avyaya (locative adverb: 'there')

• bhūta-vetāla-kādayaḥ: bhūtas, vetālas, and the like
• bhūta-vetāla-kādayaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता) (apposition to grahāḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūta (प्रातिपदिक) + vetāla (प्रातिपदिक) + ka (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Prathamā (Nominative, 1st), Bahuvacana (Plural); ādi-śabda-samāsa ('etc.')

Speaker

Sanatkumāra (teaching Nārada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Keśava
• Viṣṇu
• Śālagrāma

FAQs

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

It declares Śālagrāma as a living locus of Keśava’s presence; where Viṣṇu is worshiped in this form, hostile forces—astrological and unseen—lose their power to harm.

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

Bhakti is presented as protective and transformative: steady proximity to Keśava (through Śālagrāma-sevā) establishes divine guardianship, making fear of graha-bādha and spirits secondary to devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Jyotiṣa (Vedic astrology) is implied through the term grahāḥ: the verse frames devotion to Viṣṇu—especially Śālagrāma worship—as a śānti (pacifying remedy) against graha-doṣa and related afflictions.