Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 66

Bhāgīratha’s Bringing of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

स्निग्धकुन्तलवक्त्राब्जं विभ्राजन्मुकुटोज्ज्वलम् । श्रीवत्सकौस्तुभधरं वनमालाविभूषितम् ॥ ६६ ॥

Transliteration

snigdhakuntalavaktrābjaṃ vibhrājanmukuṭojjvalam | śrīvatsakaustubhadharaṃ vanamālāvibhūṣitam || 66 ||

Translation

祂发丝润泽卷曲，面如莲华，宝冠辉耀；胸具室利跋蹉（Śrīvatsa）之相，佩考斯图婆（Kaustubha）宝珠，又以林花鬘（vanamālā）庄严——我于心中观想礼敬此主。

Word by Word

• snigdha-kuntala-vaktra-abjam: with glossy curls and a lotus-like face
• snigdha-kuntala-vaktra-abjam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: snigdha (प्रातिपदिक) + kuntala (प्रातिपदिक) + vaktra (प्रातिपदिक) + abja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारयः (snigdhāḥ kuntalāḥ, vaktram abjam iva)

• vibhrājat-mukuṭa-ujjvalam: bright with a shining crown
• vibhrājat-mukuṭa-ujjvalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vibhrājat (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √bhraj, शतृ) + mukuṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + ujjvala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुषः (vibhrājatā mukuṭena ujjvalam)

• śrīvatsa-kaustubha-dharam: bearing the Śrīvatsa mark and the Kaustubha gem
• śrīvatsa-kaustubha-dharam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śrīvatsa (प्रातिपदिक) + kaustubha (प्रातिपदिक) + dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); द्वन्द्व-समाहार-तत्पुरुषभावः (śrīvatsaṃ ca kaustubhaṃ ca dharati)

• vana-mālā-vibhūṣitam: adorned with a forest-garland
• vana-mālā-vibhūṣitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक) + mālā (प्रातिपदिक) + vibhūṣita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √bhūṣ, क्त)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुषः (vana-mālayā vibhūṣitam)

Speaker

Narada (in devotional praise/description of Vishnu’s form, within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shrivatsa
• Kaustubha
• Vanamala

FAQs

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

It presents a dhyāna-lakṣaṇa (meditative iconography) of Bhagavān Viṣṇu—training the mind to rest on auspicious attributes (śubha-lakṣaṇa) that awaken devotion and steadiness in worship.

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

Bhakti here is practiced through loving contemplation of the Lord’s beautiful, grace-filled form—crown, lotus-face, Śrīvatsa, Kaustubha, and garland—so the heart naturally turns toward surrender and remembrance (smaraṇa).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; it primarily supports sādhana through dhyāna and stotra-style visualization used in pūjā and mantra-japa contexts.