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

凡有圣石沙拉格拉摩（Śālagrāma）之处，即是真正的圣地（tīrtha）与苦行林（tapovana），因为至福的主摩度苏达那（毗湿奴）在彼处亲近安住。

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.