Shloka 31

Glory of Puruṣottama: Pañcatīrthī Observance and Narasiṃha Worship

Devanagari script

दृष्ट्वा वटं वैनतेयं यः पश्येत्पुरुषोत्तमम् । संकर्षणं सुभद्रां च स याति परमां गतिम् ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

dṛṣṭvā vaṭaṃ vainateyaṃ yaḥ paśyetpuruṣottamam | saṃkarṣaṇaṃ subhadrāṃ ca sa yāti paramāṃ gatim || 31 ||

Translation

凡先瞻礼圣榕树与毗那帝耶（迦楼罗），继而得见至上人格主（普鲁绍塔摩，毗湿奴/黑天），并同见桑卡尔沙那（巴拉罗摩）与苏跋陀罗者，必至无上归宿。

Word by Word

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), 'having seen'

• वटम्: banyan tree
• वटम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• वैनतेयम्: Vainateya (Garuḍa)
• वैनतेयम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैनतेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• पश्येत्: should see
• पश्येत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• पुरुषोत्तमम्: Puruṣottama (the Supreme Person)
• पुरुषोत्तमम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; कर्मधारयसमास (उत्तमः पुरुषः)

• संकर्षणम्: Saṅkarṣaṇa (Balarāma)
• संकर्षणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संकर्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सुभद्राम्: Subhadrā
• सुभद्राम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुभद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• याति: goes, attains
• याति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• परमाम्: supreme
• परमाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'गतिम्' इति विशेषणम्

• गतिम्: state, destination
• गतिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object/Goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Puruṣottama (Vishnu/Krishna)
• Vainateya (Garuḍa)
• Saṃkarṣaṇa (Balarāma)
• Subhadrā
• Vaṭa (banyan tree)

FAQs

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

It teaches that tirtha-darśana—reverently beholding sacred symbols and deities (the vaṭa, Garuḍa, and Puruṣottama with Saṃkarṣaṇa and Subhadrā)—is itself a powerful bhakti-act that culminates in the “paramā gati,” the highest spiritual goal.

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

Bhakti is expressed here as darśana and remembrance: seeing Puruṣottama and His associated divine forms (Garuḍa as His emblem/vehicle, and Saṃkarṣaṇa–Subhadrā as revered associates) with faith is presented as a direct means to the supreme attainment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse primarily emphasizes tirtha-vidhi (pilgrimage practice) rather than a specific Vedāṅga; practically, it reflects kalpa-oriented ritual discipline—sequencing sacred sights (darśana-krama) as part of a prescribed pilgrimage observance.