Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 119

Mahāviṣṇu-Mantras: Aṣṭākṣarī, Sudarśana-Astra, Nyāsa Systems, Āvaraṇa-Pūjā, and Prayogas

Devanagari script

उदङ्मुखस्वतो मंत्री तां शिलां लिखनेद्भुवि । भूतप्रेताहिचौरादिकृतां बाधां निवारयेत् ॥ ११९ ॥

Transliteration

udaṅmukhasvato maṃtrī tāṃ śilāṃ likhanedbhuvi | bhūtapretāhicaurādikṛtāṃ bādhāṃ nivārayet || 119 ||

Translation

Nach Norden gewandt soll der Mantra-Übende jenen Stein auf den Boden zeichnen; er wird die von Bhūtas, Pretas, Schlangen, Dieben und dergleichen verursachten Bedrängnisse abwehren.

Word by Word

• उदङ्मुखः: facing north
• उदङ्मुखः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उदङ् + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘north-faced’ (उदङ् = उत्तरदिक्)

• स्वतः: by oneself
• स्वतः: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण; ‘by oneself/automatically’

• मन्त्री: the mantra-practitioner
• मन्त्री: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ताम्: that
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• शिलाम्: stone/slab
• शिलाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• लिखनेत्: should write/inscribe
• लिखनेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लिख् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (Vedic/epic variant for लिखेत्)

• भुवि: on the earth/ground
• भुवि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; locative ‘on the ground’

• भूत: spirit; being
• भूत: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (compound member)

• प्रेत: ghost; departed spirit
• प्रेत: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (compound member)

• अहि: snake
• अहि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (compound member)

• चौर: thief
• चौर: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चौर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (compound member)

• आदि: and the like
• आदि: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थ/समासान्त; ‘etc.’

• कृताम्: made/caused
• कृताम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifies बाधाम्

• बाधाम्: affliction; obstruction
• बाधाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाधा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• निवारयेत्: should remove/ward off
• निवारयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + वृत्/वारय् (धातु; causative of √वृ/√वार)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; causative sense ‘should ward off’

Speaker

Narada (teaching a technical mantra/ritual procedure within Vedanga-oriented material)

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 mantra-based protective rite (rakṣā-vidhi) where correct orientation and inscription are used to remove bādhā—obstructions attributed to unseen forces and dangers.

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

While primarily technical, it implies reliance on sacred mantra as a disciplined practice aligned with dharma; such regulated observance supports a devotee’s steadiness by reducing fear and disturbance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights procedural ritual knowledge: directional orientation (north-facing), use of written/inscribed mantra on a medium (stone on earth), and the applied purpose of removing specific categories of bādhā.