Shloka 71

Kāruṇya-stotra Phalaśruti; Dream-Darśana of Vāsudeva; Manifestation and Pratiṣṭhā of Jagannātha, Balabhadra (Ananta), and Subhadrā

Devanagari script

देवौ वा मानुषौ वापि यक्षविद्याधरौ वरौ । किंवा ब्रह्महृषीकेशौ वसुरुद्रावुताश्विनौ ॥ ७१ ॥

Transliteration

devau vā mānuṣau vāpi yakṣavidyādharau varau | kiṃvā brahmahṛṣīkeśau vasurudrāvutāśvinau || 71 ||

Translation

“或为二天神，或为二凡人，或为夜叉与持明者等上妙之众；或竟是梵天与赫利湿计沙（毗湿奴）；或为诸婆苏与诸鲁陀罗；或为阿湿毗尼双神——（无论是谁，皆以如此崇高之辞称述）。”

Word by Word

• देवौ: two gods
• देवौ: Karta (कर्ता/subject-option)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (disjunctive particle: or)

• मानुषौ: two humans
• मानुषौ: Karta (कर्ता/subject-option)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (or)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (also/even)

• यक्षविद्याधरौ: (two) Yakshas and Vidyadharas
• यक्षविद्याधरौ: Karta (कर्ता/subject-option)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यक्ष-विद्याधर (प्रातिपदिक; यक्ष + विद्याधर)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (यक्षाश्च विद्याधराश्च), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• वरौ: excellent / best
• वरौ: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; विशेषणम्

• किम्: or else what?
• किम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative particle)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (or)

• ब्रह्महृषीकेशौ: Brahmā and Hṛṣīkeśa (Viṣṇu)
• ब्रह्महृषीकेशौ: Karta (कर्ता/subject-option)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्-हृषीकेश (प्रातिपदिक; ब्रह्मन् + हृषीकेश)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (ब्रह्मा च हृषीकेशश्च), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• वसुरुद्रौ: Vasus and Rudras
• वसुरुद्रौ: Karta (कर्ता/subject-option)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसु-रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक; वसु + रुद्र)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (वसवश्च रुद्राश्च), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• उत: or
• उत: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उत (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (or/and then; alternative marker)

• अश्विनौ: the two Aśvins
• अश्विनौ: Karta (कर्ता/subject-option)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

Speaker

Suta (narrating the dialogue; verse framed within the Narada Purana’s Uttara-Bhaga narration)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Hrishikesha (Vishnu)
• Yaksha
• Vidyadhara
• Vasus
• Rudras
• Ashvins

FAQs

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

The verse broadens the frame of reference from human to cosmic, listing divine classes and major deities to convey that the subject under discussion is extraordinary and worthy of reverence in a tirtha-mahatmya setting.

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

By explicitly naming Hṛṣīkeśa (Viṣṇu), it anchors the sacred narrative in Vaiṣṇava theology: regardless of the beings involved—human or celestial—the highest sanctity is ultimately connected to the Lord and remembrance of Him.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse mainly reflects Purāṇic devatā-classification (deva-gaṇa taxonomy) rather than a specific Vedāṅga practice; its practical takeaway is interpretive—recognizing deity-groups (Vasus, Rudras, Aśvins) commonly used in mantra and ritual contexts.