Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 147

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

Devanagari script

विद्युन्निभा ब्रह्मसन्ध्या मृगारूढा चतुर्भुजा । चापेषुचर्मासिधरा पातु मे पावकीं दिशम् ॥ १४७ ॥

Transliteration

vidyunnibhā brahmasandhyā mṛgārūḍhā caturbhujā | cāpeṣucarmāsidharā pātu me pāvakīṃ diśam || 147 ||

Translation

বিদ্যুৎসম দীপ্তিময়ী, ব্রহ্মসন্ধ্যা-স্বরূপা, মৃগারূঢ়া চতুর্ভুজা, ধনু-বাণ, ঢাল ও খড়্গধারিণী দেবী যেন আমার পাৱকী (অগ্নি) দিক রক্ষা করেন।

Word by Word

• विद्युत्-निभा: like lightning
• विद्युत्-निभा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विद्युत् + निभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विद्युत्-इव निभा (सदृशी)

• ब्रह्म-सन्ध्या: Brahma-sandhyā (the goddess)
• ब्रह्म-सन्ध्या: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म + सन्ध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (देवी-नाम) ब्रह्मणः सन्ध्या

• मृग-आरूढा: mounted on a deer
• मृग-आरूढा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृग + आरूढा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘आरूढा’ (कृदन्त, क्त) = आरूढवती; मृगे आरूढा

• चतुर्भुजा: four-armed
• चतुर्भुजा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्भुजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्विगु—चतुर् + भुजा

• चाप-इषु-चर्म-असि-धरा: bearing bow, arrows, shield, and sword
• चाप-इषु-चर्म-असि-धरा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चाप + इषु + चर्म + असि + धरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समाहार/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व-समासः—चापं च इषून् च चर्म च असिं च धारयति

• पातु: may (she) protect
• पातु: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मे: my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन (enclitic)

• पावकीम्: fiery
• पावकीम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of diśam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पावकी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘पावकी’ = अग्निसम्बन्धिनी (fiery)

• दिशम्: direction
• दिशम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue context with the Sanatkumara tradition; protective-vidhi style invocation)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Agni (Pāvaka)
• Brahma-sandhyā (as a sacred junction/personified power)

FAQs

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

It functions as a dik-rakṣā (directional protection) invocation: visualizing a radiant, weapon-bearing divine power and requesting protection of the Agni-ruled quarter, aligning the practitioner with order (ṛta) and ritual safety.

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

Bhakti appears here as reverent surrender through praise, visualization, and prayer—seeking refuge in divine guardianship rather than personal force, a devotional posture integrated into ritual practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects ritual-application knowledge: dik-bandhana/dik-rakṣā (securing the quarters) and deity-dhyāna (iconographic visualization) used alongside mantra in ceremonial contexts, consistent with Vedāṅga-oriented technical practice.