Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 96

Pañca-prakṛti-nirūpaṇa and Mantra-vidhi: Rādhā, Mahālakṣmī, Durgā, Sarasvatī, Sāvitrī; plus Sāvitrī-Pañjara

Devanagari script

मुखनासादिकर्णेषु गुदेषु श्रीमुखार्णकान् । ततो वाग्देवतां ध्यायेद्वीणापुस्तकधारिणीम् ॥ ९६ ॥

Transliteration

mukhanāsādikarṇeṣu gudeṣu śrīmukhārṇakān | tato vāgdevatāṃ dhyāyedvīṇāpustakadhāriṇīm || 96 ||

Translation

في الفم والأنف والأذنين، وكذلك في الدبر، تُوضَع (ذهنيًّا) المقاطع البذرية المباركة التي تبدأ بـ «śrī» (حروف الصيغة المقدسة). ثم ليتأمل المرء إلهة الكلام (Vāgdevatā)، حاملةً للڤينا وكتابٍ.

Word by Word

• मुखनासादिकर्णेषु: in the mouth, nose, etc., and ears
• मुखनासादिकर्णेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुखनासादिकर्ण (प्रातिपदिक: मुख + नासा + आदि + कर्ण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; अधिकरणे (in/at)

• गुदेषु: in the anus (regions)
• गुदेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; अधिकरणे

• श्रीमुखार्णकान्: the auspicious syllables/letters (mukhārṇakas)
• श्रीमुखार्णकान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीमुखार्णक (प्रातिपदिक: श्री + मुख + अर्णक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; न्यास्य-वस्तु

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रमसूचक-अव्यय (then/thereafter)

• वाक्देवताम्: the deity of speech
• वाक्देवताम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्देवता (प्रातिपदिक: वाक् + देवता)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ध्यायेत्: should meditate upon
• ध्यायेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), तृतीयपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वीणापुस्तकधारिणीम्: bearing a lute and a book
• वीणापुस्तकधारिणीम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीणापुस्तकधारिणी (प्रातिपदिक: वीणा + पुस्तक + धारिणी)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying वाक्देवताम्)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vagdevata (Sarasvati)

FAQs

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

It teaches a nyāsa-style inner placement of sacred syllables and then directs the practitioner to contemplate Vāgdevī, indicating that purified speech and mantra-power culminate in devotion to the presiding deity of Vāk.

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

Bhakti here takes the form of focused dhyāna: after sanctifying the body with mantra-syllables, the devotee lovingly fixes the mind on Sarasvatī as the living source of sacred speech and scripture.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Śikṣā and mantra-vidhi: the use of varṇas/bīja-syllables (letters) in a ritual visualization (nyāsa) to stabilize pronunciation, memory, and sacred recitation before deity-meditation.