Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 74

Śeṣoditya-Sūrya-nyāsa, Soma-sādhana, Graha-pūjā, and Bhauma-vrata-vidhi

Devanagari script

विरूपाक्षो मुनिश्छंदोगायत्रं देवता कुजः । मंत्रार्णैः षड्भिरंगानि क्रुर्वन्ध्यायेद्धरात्मजम् ॥ ७४ ॥

Transliteration

virūpākṣo muniśchaṃdogāyatraṃ devatā kujaḥ | maṃtrārṇaiḥ ṣaḍbhiraṃgāni krurvandhyāyeddharātmajam || 74 ||

Translation

Der ṛṣi ist Virūpākṣa; das Versmaß ist Gāyatrī; die präsidierende Gottheit ist Kuja (Mars). Nachdem man mit den Mantrasilben das sechsfache aṅga-nyāsa vollzogen hat, soll man den Sohn der Erde (Mars) meditativ vergegenwärtigen.

Word by Word

• विरूपाक्षः: Virūpākṣa (one with odd/varied eyes)
• विरूपाक्षः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विरूप + अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास

• मुनिः: sage
• मुनिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• छन्दः: meter
• छन्दः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छन्दस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गायत्रम्: Gāyatrī (meter)
• गायत्रम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गायत्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (गायत्रम् as neuter name of meter)

• देवता: deity (presiding deity)
• देवता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कुजः: Kuja (Mars)
• कुजः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मन्त्र: of mantras
• मन्त्र: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural) (in compound relation)

• अर्णैः: with syllables
• अर्णैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• षड्भिः: with six
• षड्भिः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षड् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; संख्या-विशेषण (numeral adjective)

• अङ्गानि: limbs/parts (of nyāsa etc.)
• अङ्गानि: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• कुर्यात्: should perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अध्यायेत्: should recite/study
• अध्यायेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि + इ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• धरात्मजम्: the son of Earth (Mars)
• धरात्मजम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धरा + आत्मज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (धरायाः आत्मजः)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada on Vedanga-linked mantra procedure)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Virupaksha
• Kuja (Mars)
• Gayatri (Chandas)

FAQs

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

It defines the mantra’s traditional Vedic identifiers—ṛṣi, chandas, and devatā—and links them to disciplined practice (aṅga-nyāsa and dhyāna), showing that graha-upāsanā is to be done through mantra-science, not mere wish or fear.

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

Bhakti here takes the form of focused dhyāna and reverent mantra-application: by consecrating the body through nyāsa and then meditating on Kuja as Dharātmaja, devotion becomes orderly, attentive, and inwardly transformative.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights Chandas (metre—Gāyatrī) and Mantra-prayoga (application), including ṣaḍ-aṅga/nyāsa methodology using mantra syllables—key technical elements used in Narada Purana rituals and planetary (graha) practice.