Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 35

योगस्वरूप-धारणा-समाधि-वर्णनम् (केशिध्वजोपदेशः)

Devanagari script

एकपादं द्विपादं च बहुपादमपादकम् । मूर्त्तमेतद्धरे रूपं भावनात्रितयात्मकम् ॥ ३५ ॥

Transliteration

ekapādaṃ dvipādaṃ ca bahupādamapādakam | mūrttametaddhare rūpaṃ bhāvanātritayātmakam || 35 ||

Translation

May isang paa, may dalawang paa, may maraming paa, at maging walang paa—ito ang hayag na anyo (mūrti) ni Hari, na binubuo ng tatlong uri ng banal na pagninilay (bhāvanā).

Word by Word

• eka-pādam: one-footed / having one part
• eka-pādam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक) + pāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• dvi-pādam: two-footed / having two parts
• dvi-pādam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvi (प्रातिपदिक) + pāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• bahu-pādam: many-footed / many-parted
• bahu-pādam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक) + pāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• a-pādakam: footless / without feet
• a-pādakam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (नञ्/प्रत्यय) + pādaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); नञ्-समासार्थ (negative prefix)

• mūrttam: embodied, manifest
• mūrttam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mūrta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• etat: this
• etat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• dhare: I hold / I bear
• dhare: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhṛ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद

• rūpam: form
• rūpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• bhāvanā-tritaya-ātmakam: consisting of a triad of contemplations
• bhāvanā-tritaya-ātmakam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhāvanā (प्रातिपदिक) + tritaya (प्रातिपदिक) + ātmaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/सम्बन्धार्थ: 'भāvanā-tritayasya ātmakaḥ'

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Moksha-Dharma dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Hari

FAQs

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

It teaches that Hari’s manifest reality pervades all categories of beings—those with one, two, many, or no feet—so the seeker should contemplate Vishnu as the all-pervading embodied presence, not as a limited form.

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

Bhakti here is broadened into all-inclusive upasana: devotion that recognizes Hari in every embodied condition, stabilizing the mind through a disciplined threefold contemplation (bhāvanā-tritaya) that matures into God-centered awareness.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse primarily emphasizes upasana (meditative discipline) rather than a specific Vedanga; practically, it supports mantra-japa and dhyana by training the devotee to apply a consistent contemplative framework (bhāvanā) to all perceived forms.