Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 68

The Greatness of Viṣṇu

Viṣṇor Māhātmya

Devanagari script

शालग्रामशिला यत्र तत्तीर्थं तत्तपोवनम् । यतः सन्निहितस्तत्र भगवान्मधुसूदनः ॥ ६८ ॥

Transliteration

śālagrāmaśilā yatra tattīrthaṃ tattapovanam | yataḥ sannihitastatra bhagavānmadhusūdanaḥ || 68 ||

Translation

Saanman naroroon ang banal na batong Śālagrāma, ang lugar na iyon ay tunay na tīrtha at tapovana, sapagkat naroon sa malapit na presensya ang Mapalad na Panginoong Madhusūdana (Viṣṇu).

Word by Word

• śālagrāma-śilā: Śālagrāma stone
• śālagrāma-śilā: Kartā (कर्ता) (implicit: 'is')
• Type: Noun
• Root: śālagrāma (प्रातिपदिक) + śilā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (Feminine), Prathamā (Nominative, 1st), Ekavacana (Singular)

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

• tat: that
• tat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), Prathamā (Nominative, 1st), Ekavacana (Singular); demonstrative used adjectivally

• tīrtham: holy place/pilgrimage spot
• tīrtham: Kartā (कर्ता) (predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), Prathamā (Nominative, 1st), Ekavacana (Singular)

• tat: that
• tat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), Prathamā (Nominative, 1st), Ekavacana (Singular); demonstrative used adjectivally

• tapo-vanam: grove/forest of austerity
• tapo-vanam: Kartā (कर्ता) (predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक) + vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), Prathamā (Nominative, 1st), Ekavacana (Singular)

• yataḥ: because/from where
• yataḥ: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; hetu/relative adverb ('from where/because')

• sannihitaḥ: present/nearby
• sannihitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of kartā
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-ni-dhā (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Kta-participle (past passive participle), Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Prathamā (Nominative, 1st), Ekavacana (Singular); used adjectivally

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

• bhagavān: the Blessed Lord
• bhagavān: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Prathamā (Nominative, 1st), Ekavacana (Singular)

• madhusūdanaḥ: Madhusūdana (slayer of Madhu)
• madhusūdanaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता) (apposition to bhagavān)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhu (प्रातिपदिक) + sūdana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Prathamā (Nominative, 1st), Ekavacana (Singular)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Purva Bhaga dialogue setting)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Shalagrama
• Vishnu
• Madhusudana

FAQs

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

It declares that the presence of a Śālagrāma-śilā itself sanctifies a place as a tīrtha and tapovana, since Vishnu (Madhusūdana) is regarded as specially present there.

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

It grounds bhakti in tangible, reverential worship: honoring Śālagrāma is treated as direct service to Vishnu, turning daily life and one’s dwelling into a devotional sacred space.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual application (kalpa-style practice) is implied: establishing a sacred locus for worship by keeping and honoring Śālagrāma, which functions like a portable tīrtha for regular pūjā and vrata observance.