Shloka 77

Puruṣottama-māhātmya

The Greatness of Puruṣottama Kṣetra

Devanagari script

श्रीवत्सवक्षसा युक्तं वनमाला विभूषितम् । पीतवस्त्रं चतुर्बाहुं शंखचक्रगदाधरम् ॥ ७७ ॥

Transliteration

śrīvatsavakṣasā yuktaṃ vanamālā vibhūṣitam | pītavastraṃ caturbāhuṃ śaṃkhacakragadādharam || 77 ||

Translation

祂胸前具圣吉祥的室利跋蹉（Śrīvatsa）印，佩林野花鬘，身着黄衣，具四臂，执螺、轮与杵。

Word by Word

• śrīvatsavakṣasā: with (his) chest bearing the Śrīvatsa mark
• śrīvatsavakṣasā: Hetu/Karaṇa (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrīvatsa-vakṣas (प्रातिपदिक; श्रीवत्स + वक्षस्)
• Form: Napumsaka? actually vakṣas is neuter; Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (śrīvatsasya vakṣaḥ)

• yuktam: endowed/connected
• yuktam: Karma (कर्म) – adjectival qualifier
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yuj (धातु) → yukta (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/PPP); Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; agrees with implied object (tam/īśvaram)

• vanamālā: forest-garland
• vanamālā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) / attribute
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana-mālā (प्रातिपदिक; वन + माला)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (vanasya mālā)

• vibhūṣitam: adorned
• vibhūṣitam: Karma (कर्म) – adjectival qualifier
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-bhūṣ (धातु) → vibhūṣita (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: PPP (क्त); Neuter, Accusative, Singular; agrees with implied object

• pītavastram: wearing yellow garments / yellow-clad
• pītavastram: Karma (कर्म) – qualifier
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pīta-vastra (प्रातिपदिक; पीत + वस्त्र)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; कर्मधारयः (pītaṃ vastram yasya / pītaṃ vastram) used adjectivally

• caturbāhum: four-armed
• caturbāhum: Karma (कर्म) – qualifier
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catur-bāhu (प्रातिपदिक; चतुर् + बाहु)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter adjectival; Accusative, Singular; बहुव्रीहिः (caturbāhavaḥ yasya)

• śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-dharam: bearing conch, discus, and mace
• śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-dharam: Karma (कर्म) – qualifier
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaṅkha + cakra + gadā + dhara (प्रातिपदिक; शंख + चक्र + गदा + धर)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; समासः उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (śaṅkhaṃ cakraṃ gadāṃ ca dharati iti)

Speaker

Narada (describing Vishnu's form within the Uttara-Bhaga Tirtha/Mahatmya narration)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Śrīvatsa
• Vanamālā
• Śaṅkha
• Cakra
• Gadā

FAQs

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

It gives a dhyāna-style description of Bhagavān Viṣṇu’s auspicious marks and weapons, guiding the devotee to fix the mind on a sattvic, protective, and grace-filled form for worship and remembrance.

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

By presenting Viṣṇu’s recognizable attributes—Śrīvatsa, Vanamālā, pītāmbara, and the divine weapons—it supports nāma-smaraṇa and rūpa-dhyāna, core bhakti practices that cultivate steadiness, reverence, and surrender.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse mainly serves dhyāna and pūjā visualization (pratyakṣa-upāsanā); it does not directly teach a Vedāṅga, but it aligns with ritual practice by specifying mūrti-lakṣaṇa (iconographic identifiers) used in worship.