Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18

योगस्वरूप-धारणा-समाधि-वर्णनम् (केशिध्वजोपदेशः)

Devanagari script

तस्य चालंबनवत्स्थूलं रूपं द्विषत्पते । आलंबनमनन्तस्य योगिनोऽभ्यसतः स्मृतम् ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

tasya cālaṃbanavatsthūlaṃ rūpaṃ dviṣatpate | ālaṃbanamanantasya yogino'bhyasataḥ smṛtam || 18 ||

Translation

Hỡi bậc chúa tể giữa những kẻ thù, đối với vị yogin đang tu tập, kinh dạy rằng nên lấy một hình tướng thô, có thể nương tựa được, của Đấng Vô Biên ấy làm chỗ y cứ (ālambana), như một cây chống để giữ tâm được vững.

Word by Word

• तस्य: of that (practice/that one)
• तस्य: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• आलम्बन-वत्-स्थूलम्: a gross form having a support
• आलम्बन-वत्-स्थूलम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आलम्बन (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित) + स्थूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (विशेषण-विशेष्यभाव): ‘आलम्बनवत्’ (having a support) + ‘स्थूल’ (gross); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifying ‘रूपम्’)

• रूपम्: form
• रूपम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; in ‘smṛtam’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular)

• द्विषत्-पते: O lord of enemies
• द्विषत्-पते: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विषत् (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: द्विषत्पति = ‘lord of enemies’; पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• आलम्बनम्: support (object of meditation)
• आलम्बनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आलम्बन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular); apposition/explanatory to ‘रूपम्’

• अनन्तस्य: of the Infinite (Viṣṇu)
• अनन्तस्य: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• योगिनः: of the yogin
• योगिनः: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• अभ्यसतः: of (one) practicing
• अभ्यसतः: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-√अस्/अभ्यास (धातु √अस्?; here from √अस् not; better: √अस् not applicable; from √अस्? Actually ‘अभ्यसत्’ from √अस्?; standard is √अस् (to be) no; ‘अभ्यस’ is denominative from ‘अभ्यास’; treat as धातु: अभ्यासयति/अभ्यस्यति from √अस्?; use √अस्?; safest: अभ्यस् (धातु, 10P/denom)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle) परस्मैपद, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular): ‘of (him) practicing’

• स्मृतम्: is stated/remembered
• स्मृतम्: Kriyā (क्रिया; passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular); विधेय (predicate): ‘is said/remembered’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching), in dialogue with Narada (listener)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Ananta
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It explains that the Infinite (Ananta/Vishnu) can be approached through a concrete divine form used as ālambana (a meditative support), helping the mind become steady and fit for higher realization.

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

By recommending meditation on a tangible form of the Infinite, it validates form-based devotion (saguṇa-upāsanā) as a legitimate and effective doorway to communion with Vishnu/Ananta.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught here; the practical takeaway is yogic method—using ālambana (a chosen divine form) as a disciplined technique for dhyāna and mental steadiness.