Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 170

Jyotiṣa-śāstra Saṅgraha: Threefold Division, Gaṇita Methods, Muhūrta, and Planetary Reckoning

Devanagari script

पंचत्वे गोंकविशिखाः शेषकर्णहताः पृथक् । विकृज्यकांगसिद्धाग्निभक्तालब्धोनसंयुताः ॥ १७० ॥

Transliteration

paṃcatve goṃkaviśikhāḥ śeṣakarṇahatāḥ pṛthak | vikṛjyakāṃgasiddhāgnibhaktālabdhonasaṃyutāḥ || 170 ||

Translation

In der fünffachen Einteilung gibt es Klassen wie die Goṅkaviśikhā und die Śeṣakarṇahatā, jeweils gesondert unterschieden; und weitere — solche mit veränderten Gliedern, durch Zucht Vollendete, dem Agni (dem heiligen Feuer) Ergebene, dem Gottesdienst Hingebende und jene, die das zuvor Unerlangte erlangten — alle mit ihren jeweiligen Merkmalen versehen.

Word by Word

• पञ्चत्वे: in the fivefold state / in five cases
• पञ्चत्वे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्चत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; locative singular; द्विगु-समास: पञ्च + त्व (state of fivefoldness)

• गोङ्क-विशिखाः: (those) having ‘goṅka’ as arrow-tips / goṅka-tipped (entities)
• गोङ्क-विशिखाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोङ्क + विशिखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; nominative plural; समास: गोङ्क-विशिखा (निर्दिष्ट-तत्पुरुष/उपपद)

• शेष-कर्ण-हताः: struck/removed at the remaining ‘ears’ (or ear-like parts)
• शेष-कर्ण-हताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शेष + कर्ण + हत (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; past passive participle (क्त) from √हन्; समास: शेष-कर्ण-हत (तत्पुरुष)

• पृथक्: separately
• पृथक्: Prakara (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; भेदवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of separation)

• विकृज्य: having cut/altered
• विकृज्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वि+कृज्/कृन्त् (धातु)
• Form: अव्यय; क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्-प्रत्यय (gerund) ‘having cut/modified’; पाठ ‘विकृज्य’ अनिश्चित (विकृत्य इति सम्भाव्य)

• काङ्ग-सिद्ध-अग्नि-भक्त-अलब्ध-ओन-संयुताः: joined with (items) such as kāṅga, perfected, fire, offering, unobtained, and ‘ona’
• काङ्ग-सिद्ध-अग्नि-भक्त-अलब्ध-ओन-संयुताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काङ्ग + सिद्ध + अग्नि + भक्त + अलब्ध + ओन + संयुत (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; ‘संयुत’ (क्त) from √युज् with सम्; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास (श्रृङ्खला)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in Moksha-Dharma context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It presents a fivefold typology of practitioners or groups, emphasizing that seekers differ by temperament and discipline (fire-worship, devotional worship, perfected practice), yet each is recognized within a structured spiritual framework.

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

By explicitly naming “bhaktas” (devotees) and placing them among recognized spiritual types, the verse validates devotion as a legitimate and distinct sādhanā alongside austerity/perfection and Vedic fire-oriented practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse indirectly points to ritual discipline through “Agni-bhakti,” implying competence in Vedic ritual performance (kalpa-oriented practice), even though no single Vedāṅga is taught explicitly in this line.