Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 42

The Greatness of Viṣṇu

Uttaṅka’s Hymn, Hari’s Manifestation, and the Boon of Bhakti

Devanagari script

पीताम्बरधरं देवं वनमालाविभूषितम् । तुलसीकोमलदलैरर्चिताङिघ्रं महाद्युतिम् ॥ ४२ ॥

Transliteration

pītāmbaradharaṃ devaṃ vanamālāvibhūṣitam | tulasīkomaladalairarcitāṅighraṃ mahādyutim || 42 ||

Translation

میں اُس الٰہی پروردگار کا دھیان کرتا ہوں جو زرد لباس (پیتامبر) دھارتا ہے، ون مالا سے آراستہ ہے، جس کے قدم نرم تلسی کے پتّوں سے پوجے جاتے ہیں، اور جو عظیم جلال سے درخشاں ہے۔

Word by Word

• pītāmbaradharaṃ: wearing yellow garments
• pītāmbaradharaṃ: Visheshana (Adjective to devam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pītāmbaradhara (pīta-ambara-dhara)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• devaṃ: God/Lord
• devaṃ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• vanamālāvibhūṣitam: adorned with a garland of forest flowers
• vanamālāvibhūṣitam: Visheshana (Adjective to devam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vanamālāvibhūṣita (vanamālā-vibhūṣita)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; Tritiya Tatpurusha

• tulasīkomaladalaiḥ: with tender Tulasi leaves
• tulasīkomaladalaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण) for arcita
• Type: Noun
• Root: tulasīkomaladala (tulasī-komala-dala)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• arcitāṅghrim: whose feet are worshipped
• arcitāṅghrim: Visheshana (Adjective to devam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: arcitāṅghri (arcita-aṅghri)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• mahādyutim: of great radiance/splendor
• mahādyutim: Visheshana (Adjective to devam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahādyuti (mahat-dyuti)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

Speaker

Sanatkumāra (teaching Nārada in a devotional/meditative context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Tulasī

FAQs

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

It presents a focused dhyāna (meditative) form of Viṣṇu—yellow-robed, garlanded, radiant—emphasizing devotion expressed through reverent worship of the Lord’s feet with tulasī.

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

Bhakti is shown as loving upāsanā: remembering the Lord’s auspicious form and offering simple, pure items like tulasī leaves, with special reverence to the Lord’s feet (aṅghri-sevā).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual practice (kalpa-oriented pūjā procedure) is implied: selecting sāttvika offerings—especially tulasī for Viṣṇu—and using a dhyāna-śloka to steady the mind before worship.