Shloka 1

The Greatness of Puruṣottama

Goloka-tattva and Rādhā–Kṛṣṇa Upāsanā

Devanagari script

वसुरुवाच । योऽसौ निरंजनो देवश्चित्स्वरूपी जनार्दनः । ज्योतीरूपो महाभागे कृष्णस्तल्लक्षणं श्रृणु ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

vasuruvāca | yo'sau niraṃjano devaścitsvarūpī janārdanaḥ | jyotīrūpo mahābhāge kṛṣṇastallakṣaṇaṃ śrṛṇu || 1 ||

Translation

వసువు పలికెను—ఆ నిర్మల దేవుడు జనార్దనుడు, శుద్ధ చైతన్యస్వరూపుడు, జ్యోతిరూపుడు; ఓ మహాభాగ్యవతీ! ఆయనే కృష్ణుడు—ఆయన లక్షణాలను వినుము.

Word by Word

• वसुः: Vasu
• वसुः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन — 'said'

• यः: who
• यः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन — relative pronoun

• असौ: that (one)
• असौ: कर्ता (Karta/Subject, in apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन — demonstrative

• निरञ्जनः: stainless
• निरञ्जनः: विशेषण (Adjectival to Janārdana/Kṛṣṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निरञ्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन — 'stainless'

• देवः: god
• देवः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject, apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• चित्स्वरूपी: of the nature of consciousness
• चित्स्वरूपी: विशेषण (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चित् + स्वरूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (चित्-स्वरूपी = 'whose nature is consciousness'); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• जनार्दनः: Janārdana (Viṣṇu)
• जनार्दनः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनार्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• ज्योतीरूपः: light-formed
• ज्योतीरूपः: विशेषण (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्योतिस् + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (ज्योतिस्-रूप = 'having the form of light'); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• महाभागे: O fortunate lady
• महाभागे: सम्बोधन (Vocative/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाभाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (महान् भागः यस्य); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन — addressing Mohinī

• कृष्णः: Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्णः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject, apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: कर्म (Karma/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन — 'that' (qualifying lakṣaṇam)

• लक्षणम्: characteristic/mark
• लक्षणम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• शृणु: hear
• शृणु: क्रिया (Imperative to listener)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन — 'hear'

Speaker

Vasu

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Janardana
• Krishna

FAQs

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

It frames Kṛṣṇa/Janārdana as the transcendent reality—stainless (nirañjana), consciousness itself (cit-svarūpa), and luminous (jyotī-rūpa)—so devotion and contemplation are directed to the highest, impurity-free Brahman-like Lord.

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

Bhakti here begins with right recognition: the devotee is asked to “hear the lakṣaṇa” of Kṛṣṇa, understanding him as Janārdana beyond material taint; such knowledge stabilizes devotion from mere sentiment into God-centered remembrance and worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse uses the idea of lakṣaṇa (definition/characteristic marks), a key analytical method emphasized in śāstra study and supported by Vyākaraṇa (grammar/precise meaning) to grasp exact theological terms like nirañjana and cit-svarūpa.