Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 35

Rādhā-sambaddha-mantra-vyākhyā

Rādhā-Related Mantras Explained

Devanagari script

षड्दीर्घाढ्येन बीजेन कुर्याश्चैव षडंगकम् । लोहितां ललितां बाणचापपाशसृणीः करैः ॥ ३५ ॥

Transliteration

ṣaḍdīrghāḍhyena bījena kuryāścaiva ṣaḍaṃgakam | lohitāṃ lalitāṃ bāṇacāpapāśasṛṇīḥ karaiḥ || 35 ||

Translation

ছয় দীর্ঘস্বর-সমৃদ্ধ বীজমন্ত্র দ্বারা ষড়ঙ্গ-ন্যাস কর; দেবীকে লোহিতবর্ণা ও ললিতা রূপে ধ্যান কর—যাঁর করযুগলে বাণ, চাপ, পাশ ও সৃণী (অঙ্কুশ) বিদ্যমান।

Word by Word

• षट्-दीर्घ-आढ्येन: with (a seed) endowed with six long vowels
• षट्-दीर्घ-आढ्येन: करण (Instrument; qualifier of बीजेन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षट् + दीर्घ + आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: षड्भिः दीर्घैः आढ्यः (endowed with six long vowels)

• बीजेन: with the seed-syllable
• बीजेन: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बीज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• कुर्यात्: should make/do
• कुर्यात्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: अवधारण (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis particle)

• षट्-अङ्गकम्: the sixfold (ṣaḍaṅga)
• षट्-अङ्गकम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट् + अङ्गक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; द्विगु: षड् अङ्गानि यस्य/षडङ्ग-रूपम् (six-limbed form/rite)

• लोहिताम्: red (one)
• लोहिताम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोहिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; (देवीम्/मूर्तिम्) विशेषयति

• ललिताम्: graceful/beautiful
• ललिताम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ललिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• बाण-चाप-पाश-सृणीः: arrows, bow, noose, and goad
• बाण-चाप-पाश-सृणीः: कर्म (Object; what is held/visualized)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण + चाप + पाश + सृणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व: बाणं च चापं च पाशं च सृणीं च (four items)

• करैः: with (her) hands
• करैः: करण (Instrument/means; ‘with (her) hands’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Devi (Goddess)
• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It links precise mantra-phonetics (a seed-mantra characterized by long vowels) with inner sanctification through ṣaḍaṅga-nyāsa and focused deity-visualization, showing that correct sound, placement, and contemplation together make worship effective.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as disciplined upāsanā: the devotee performs nyāsa and then lovingly meditates on the Goddess’ form—red and graceful—so devotion becomes steady through clear visualization and mantra-anchored attention.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā (Vedic phonetics) is implied by the emphasis on dīrgha (long vowels) in the bīja, and Kalpa-style ritual procedure is reflected in the instruction to perform ṣaḍaṅga-nyāsa as a standardized preparatory rite.