Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 53

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

Devanagari script

देवीं दूर्वादलश्यामां दधानां शालिमंजरीम् । चिंतयेद्भारतीं देवीं वीणापुस्तकधारिणीम् ॥ ५३ ॥

Transliteration

devīṃ dūrvādalaśyāmāṃ dadhānāṃ śālimaṃjarīm | ciṃtayedbhāratīṃ devīṃ vīṇāpustakadhāriṇīm || 53 ||

Translation

Man soll über die Göttin Bhāratī meditieren: dunkel wie die Blätter des Dūrvā-Grases, eine Rispe von Reisähren haltend und Vīṇā sowie Buch tragend.

Word by Word

• devīm: the goddess
• devīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• dūrvā-dala-śyāmām: dark-green like a dūrvā leaf
• dūrvā-dala-śyāmām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dūrvā (प्रातिपदिक) + dala (प्रातिपदिक) + śyāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; descriptive compound: 'dark like dūrvā-leaf' (उपमान-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-भाव) qualifying devīm

• dadhānām: bearing/holding
• dadhānām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhṛ (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ-प्रत्यय, वर्तमानकाले), Parasmaipada; Feminine, Accusative, Singular agreeing with devīm

• śāli-maṃjarīm: a cluster/ear of rice
• śāli-maṃjarīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śāli (प्रातिपदिक) + maṃjarī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (śāleḥ maṃjarī)

• ciṃtayet: should contemplate/visualize
• ciṃtayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: cint (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/optative), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• bhāratīm: Bhāratī (Sarasvatī)
• bhāratīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāratī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; proper name (Sarasvatī/Bhāratī)

• devīm: the goddess
• devīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular; apposition to bhāratīm

• vīṇā-pustaka-dhāriṇīm: holding a lute and a book
• vīṇā-pustaka-dhāriṇīm: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vīṇā (प्रातिपदिक) + pustaka (प्रातिपदिक) + dhāriṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular; उपपद-तत्पुरुष: 'one who holds a vīṇā and a book' qualifying devīm

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a Vedanga-oriented upasana context, within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Bharati (Sarasvati)

FAQs

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

It presents a precise dhyāna-form of Bhāratī (Sarasvatī), linking sacred speech, scriptural knowledge, and inner concentration—key supports for Vedic study and disciplined learning.

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

Bhakti here takes the form of focused upāsanā: meditating on the deity’s attributes (vīṇā, book, and grain) to cultivate devotion that ripens into clarity of speech, understanding, and steadiness in sādhana.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It underscores the practical role of Sarasvatī in enabling śāstra-study—especially disciplines like Vyākaraṇa (grammar) and correct recitation/learning—by prescribing a concrete visualization (dhyāna) to steady the mind for study.