Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 14

The Second Twelve-Month Vrata: Dvitīyā Observances and Their Fruits

Devanagari script

सशक्तिक तु शय्यास्थं पूजयित्वा चतुर्मुखम् । इममुच्चारयेन्मंत्रं प्रणम्य जगतां पतिम् ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

saśaktika tu śayyāsthaṃ pūjayitvā caturmukham | imamuccārayenmaṃtraṃ praṇamya jagatāṃ patim || 14 ||

Translation

Dann, nachdem man den viergesichtigen Herrn (Brahmā), der auf seiner Lagerstätte ruht, zusammen mit seiner Śakti verehrt hat, soll man sich vor dem Herrn der Welten verneigen und dieses Mantra rezitieren.

Word by Word

• स-शक्तिकम्: together with (his) śakti/consort
• स-शक्तिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्तिक (प्रातिपदिक) + स- (उपसर्ग/पूर्वपद)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘शक्तिकसहितम्’ (with his śakti/consort)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha/Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थे ‘but/indeed’

• शय्या-स्थम्: lying on the bed
• शय्या-स्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शय्या (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष) ‘शय्यायां स्थितम्’ (lying/being on a bed)

• पूजयित्वा: having worshipped
• पूजयित्वा: Kriya (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); ‘having worshipped’ (पूर्वक्रिया)

• चतुर्-मुखम्: the four-faced one (Brahmā)
• चतुर्-मुखम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (द्विगु/संख्यापूर्वपद-तत्पुरुष) ‘चारि मुखानि यस्य’—ब्रह्मा (four-faced)

• इमम्: this
• इमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम; ‘this’ (qualifying मन्त्रम्)

• उच्चारयेत्: should recite
• उच्चारयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-चर् (धातु) / उच्चारय् (णिजन्त-धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘should recite/utter’

• मन्त्रम्: mantra
• मन्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रणम्य: having bowed
• प्रणम्य: Kriya (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-नम् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यबन्त/क्त्वार्थक अव्यय (absolutive); ‘having bowed’

• जगताम्: of the worlds
• जगताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; ‘of the worlds’

• पतिम्: lord
• पतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (instructional narration within the ritual context, traditionally framed in dialogue with Sanatkumara)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Shakti
• Jagatpati (Vishnu/Parameshvara as Lord of the worlds)

FAQs

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

It teaches that mantra-recitation should be preceded by reverential worship and humility—honouring Brahmā (with his śakti) and then bowing to the supreme Lord of the worlds before chanting.

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

Bhakti is shown through pūjā (worship), praṇāma (prostration), and mantra-japa/uccāraṇa—devotion expressed as disciplined, reverent approach to the Divine.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual order and correct practice (kalpa-style procedure): worship first, then praṇāma, then mantra-utterance—emphasizing disciplined liturgical sequencing.