Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 120

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

Devanagari script

प्रातर्भृगुदिने साध्यभूतलान्मृदमाहरेत् । मंत्रितां मूलमंत्रेण विभजेत्तां त्रिधा पुनः ॥ १२० ॥

Transliteration

prātarbhṛgudine sādhyabhūtalānmṛdamāharet | maṃtritāṃ mūlamaṃtreṇa vibhajettāṃ tridhā punaḥ || 120 ||

Translation

Am Morgen des Bhṛgu-Tages (Freitag) nehme man Erde (Lehm) von einem gereinigten Platz am Boden. Nachdem man sie mit dem Wurzelmantra (mūla-mantra) geweiht hat, teile man diese Erde erneut in drei Teile.

Word by Word

• प्रातर्: in the morning
• प्रातर्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रातर् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• भृगुदिने: on Friday
• भृगुदिने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृगु + दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘on Bhṛgu’s day’ (= Friday)

• साध्य: to be accomplished; suitable
• साध्य: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (compound member)

• भूतलात्: from the ground
• भूतलात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूतल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; ablative ‘from the ground’

• मृदम्: clay/earth
• मृदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आहरेत्: should bring/collect
• आहरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + हृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• मंत्रिताम्: consecrated/enchanted
• मंत्रिताम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन्त्रय् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifies मृदम् (understood)

• मूलमंत्रेण: with the principal mantra
• मूलमंत्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; ‘with the root-mantra’

• विभजेत्: should divide
• विभजेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + भज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

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

• त्रिधा: into three parts; threefold
• त्रिधा: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्रिधा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक (adverb of manner)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, पुनरुक्ति/क्रम (adverb)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Bhṛgu

FAQs

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

It teaches that ritual substances are not merely physical: earth becomes spiritually efficacious when purified, gathered at an auspicious time, and empowered by the principal (root) mantra before being used in a structured way.

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

While primarily a technical (Kalpa) instruction, it supports bhakti by emphasizing reverent preparation—collecting and sanctifying materials as an act of disciplined worship that aligns the devotee’s actions with mantra and sacred order.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa-Vedāṅga (ritual procedure) and basic mantra-viniyoga: choosing an auspicious weekday/time, collecting ritually suitable material, consecrating it with the mūla-mantra, and dividing it into prescribed portions for subsequent ritual steps.