Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 40

The Greatness of Viṣṇu

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

Devanagari script

अतसीपुष्पसङ्काशं फुल्लपङ्कजलोचनम् । किरीटिनं कुण्डलिनं हारकेयूरभूषितम् ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

atasīpuṣpasaṅkāśaṃ phullapaṅkajalocanam | kirīṭinaṃ kuṇḍalinaṃ hārakeyūrabhūṣitam || 40 ||

Translation

祂光耀如蓝色亚麻花，双目如盛放莲华；头戴宝冠，耳垂璎珞，并以项链与臂钏庄严其身。

Word by Word

• atasī-puṣpa-saṅkāśam: resembling flax-flowers
• atasī-puṣpa-saṅkāśam: Karma (कर्म; qualifier of the seen deity)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: atasī (अतसी-प्रातिपदिक) + puṣpa (पुष्प-प्रातिपदिक) + saṅkāśa (सङ्काश-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन) — tatpuruṣa: 'resembling atasī-flowers'

• phulla-paṅkaja-locanam: with blooming lotus-eyes
• phulla-paṅkaja-locanam: Karma (कर्म; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: phulla (फुल्ल-प्रातिपदिक) + paṅkaja (पङ्कज-प्रातिपदिक) + locana (लोचन-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन) — karmadhāraya: 'lotus-eyes that are blooming'

• kirīṭinam: crowned
• kirīṭinam: Karma (कर्म; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kirīṭin (किरीटिन्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन) — possessive adjective

• kuṇḍalinam: wearing earrings
• kuṇḍalinam: Karma (कर्म; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kuṇḍalin (कुण्डलिन्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन) — 'having earrings'

• hāra-keyūra-bhūṣitam: adorned with necklaces and armlets
• hāra-keyūra-bhūṣitam: Karma (कर्म; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hāra (हार-प्रातिपदिक) + keyūra (केयूर-प्रातिपदिक) + bhūṣita (भूषित-प्रातिपदिक; from √bhūṣ)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन) — dvandva 'hāra + keyūra' with PPP bhūṣita: 'adorned with garlands and armlets'

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the dialogue context of Book 1.1)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It provides a dhyāna-oriented visualization of Lord Vishnu’s auspicious form (rūpa), making the mind steady through sacred iconographic contemplation.

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

By describing the Lord’s beauty and ornaments, it draws the devotee’s attention into loving remembrance (smaraṇa) and focused meditation—core practices of Vishnu-bhakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Primarily śikṣā and chandas sensibility through precise devotional diction and imagery used for dhyāna; it is not a technical instruction in vyākaraṇa or jyotiṣa in this specific verse.