Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 58

Gaṇeśa Mantra-vidhi: Mahāgaṇapati Gāyatrī, Vakratuṇḍa Mantra, Nyāsa, Homa, Āvaraṇa-pūjā, and Caturthī Vrata

Devanagari script

स्पृष्ट्रा चैव निरहारस्तां शिखायां समुद्वहन् । द्यूते विवादे समरे व्यवहारे जयं लभेत् ॥ ५८ ॥

Transliteration

spṛṣṭrā caiva nirahārastāṃ śikhāyāṃ samudvahan | dyūte vivāde samare vyavahāre jayaṃ labhet || 58 ||

Translation

Nachdem man es berührt hat und ohne Nahrung bleibt, dabei jene śikhā (ritueller Haarschopf) ordnungsgemäß trägt, erlangt man Sieg im Spiel, in Streitfällen, im Kampf und in weltlichen Geschäften.

Word by Word

• स्पृष्ट्वा: having touched
• स्पृष्ट्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्पृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), from √स्पृश्; ‘having touched’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (Conjunction)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारण अव्यय (Emphatic particle)

• निराहारः: fasting
• निराहारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निराहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; ‘without food, fasting’

• ताम्: that (lock/tuft etc.)
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; ‘that (her/it)’

• शिखायाम्: on the śikhā (tuft)
• शिखायाम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘in/on the tuft (of hair)’

• समुद्वहन्: carrying/bearing
• समुद्वहन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-उद्-√वह् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (Present participle/शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा एकवचन; ‘carrying/bearing’

• द्यूते: in gambling
• द्यूते: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्यूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘in gambling’

• विवादे: in a dispute
• विवादे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विवाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘in dispute’

• समरे: in battle
• समरे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘in battle’

• व्यवहारे: in legal dealings
• व्यवहारे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यवहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘in litigation/transaction’

• जयम्: victory
• जयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; ‘victory’

• लभेत्: would obtain
• लभेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘may obtain’

Speaker

Narada (instructional discourse within Vedanga/ritual context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It presents a ritual-technical observance (fasting and maintaining the śikhā) as a disciplined act believed to generate protective and success-bestowing potency (siddhi) in challenging worldly situations.

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

While not explicitly devotional, it reflects the Purāṇic principle that bodily discipline and observance (niyama) can support a devotee’s steadiness and protection in life, indirectly aiding sustained religious practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It aligns with Śikṣā/kalpa-style ritual discipline: the śikhā as a marker of Vedic identity and regulated conduct, combined with nirāhāra (fasting) as a rule-based observance used for specific aims.