Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 81

Devanagari script

ध्रुवो मणिधरीत्यंते वज्रिण्यक्षियुता मृतिः । खरिविद्यायुग्रिजश्व सर्ववांते बकोऽब्जवान् ॥ ८१ ॥

Transliteration

dhruvo maṇidharītyaṃte vajriṇyakṣiyutā mṛtiḥ | kharividyāyugrijaśva sarvavāṃte bako'bjavān || 81 ||

Translation

ধ্ৰুৱ ‘মণিধৰ’ নামে খ্যাত; ‘মৃতি’ক ‘বজ্ৰিণী’—অক্ষয় নেত্ৰযুক্ত—বুলি কোৱা হয়। ‘খৰী-বিদ্যা’ ‘উগ্ৰিজাশ্ব’ নামে জনা যায়; আৰু সকলোৰ অন্তত ‘বক’—পদ্মজ—উল্লেখিত।

Word by Word

• ध्रुवः: ‘Dhruva’
• ध्रुवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1 विभक्ति), एकवचन; मन्त्रनाम

• मणि-धरि-इति-अन्ते: at the end (with the word) ‘maṇidhari’
• मणि-धरि-इति-अन्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मणि + धरि + इति + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7 विभक्ति), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (‘मणिधरि’ इति अन्ते = ending with ‘maṇidhari’)

• वज्रिणी: ‘Vajriṇī’
• वज्रिणी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वज्रिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1 विभक्ति), एकवचन; मन्त्रनाम/शक्तिनाम

• अक्षि-युता: joined with ‘akṣi’
• अक्षि-युता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षि + युत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1 विभक्ति), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (अक्षिणा/अक्षिभिः युता = joined with ‘akṣi’)

• मृतिः: ‘Mṛti’
• मृतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1 विभक्ति), एकवचन; मन्त्रनाम

• खरि-विद्या-युग्-ऋज-श्व: ‘khari-vidyā-yug-ṛj-śva’ (sequence of mantra-words)
• खरि-विद्या-युग्-ऋज-श्व: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खरि + विद्या + युग् + ऋज + श्व (प्रातिपदिक/मन्त्रपद)
• Form: (मन्त्रपदसमूहः) प्रथमा (1 विभक्ति), एकवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्व/समाहार-प्राय (multiple mantra-words in sequence)

• सर्व-व-अन्ते: at the end (with) ‘sarva’ and ‘va’
• सर्व-व-अन्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + व + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7 विभक्ति), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (‘सर्व’ ‘व’ इति अन्ते = ending with ‘sarva’ and ‘va’)

• बकः: ‘Baka’
• बकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1 विभक्ति), एकवचन; मन्त्रनाम

• अब्ज-वान्: lotus-possessing
• अब्ज-वान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अब्ज + वत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1 विभक्ति), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (अब्जं यस्य/अब्जवत् = lotus-possessing)

Speaker

Sage Narada (in a technical/vedanga-style listing within the dialogue tradition attributed to Narada and the Sanatkumara lineage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Dhruva
• Mṛti
• Baka
• Brahmā (by epithet ‘lotus-born’)

FAQs

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

This verse functions as a Vedāṅga-like index of epithets and variant names, showing how Purāṇic tradition preserves sacred knowledge through precise nomenclature—useful for correct recitation, interpretation, and ritual/śāstra cross-referencing.

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

Indirectly: by safeguarding correct names and identifications of cosmic and divine principles, it supports śravaṇa and kīrtana (hearing and recitation). In Narada’s framework, accurate sacred speech (śabda) becomes a support for devotional practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vyākaraṇa/Nighaṇṭu-style practice: cataloging synonyms, epithets, and proper-name variants—an archival tool for philology, mantra-accuracy, and technical indexing within Purāṇic literature.