Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 68

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

Devanagari script

स्पृष्ट्वा ब्राह्मीधृतं जप्त्वा पिबेत्साधकसत्तमः । मेधां कवित्वं वाक्सिद्धिं लभते नात्र संशयः ॥ ६८ ॥

Transliteration

spṛṣṭvā brāhmīdhṛtaṃ japtvā pibetsādhakasattamaḥ | medhāṃ kavitvaṃ vāksiddhiṃ labhate nātra saṃśayaḥ || 68 ||

Translation

Nachdem man Ghee, das mit Brāhmī durchtränkt ist, berührt und das Mantra rezitiert hat, soll der beste der Sādhakas es trinken; er erlangt Geistesschärfe, dichterischen Glanz und Vāk-siddhi, die Vollkommenheit der Rede—ohne Zweifel.

Word by Word

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

• ब्राह्मीधृतम्: brāhmī-infused ghee
• ब्राह्मीधृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मी-धृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: ब्राह्म्या (ब्राह्मी-औषध्या) धृतम् = ‘ghee infused with brāhmī’

• जप्त्वा: having recited
• जप्त्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), from √जप्; ‘having recited’

• पिबेत्: should drink
• पिबेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधि), प्रथमपुरुष? actually 3rd person singular (प्रथमपुरुष एकवचन), परस्मैपद; √पा ‘to drink’

• साधकसत्तमः: the best practitioner
• साधकसत्तमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधक-सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: साधकानां सत्तमः = ‘best among practitioners’

• मेधाम्: intelligence
• मेधाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेधा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कवित्वम्: poetic skill
• कवित्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कवित्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वाक्सिद्धिम्: power of speech
• वाक्सिद्धिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्-सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: वाचः सिद्धिः = ‘power/perfection of speech’

• लभते: obtains
• लभते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; √लभ् ‘to obtain’

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निषेध (negation particle)

• अत्र: here/in this matter
• अत्र: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक (locative adverb)

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical/ritual context within Vedanga-oriented material)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahmi

FAQs

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

It presents a mantra-supported, sādhana-based method where sacred recitation and ritually prepared brāhmī-infused ghee are used to cultivate medhā (higher intellect) and vāk-śakti (power of speech), treating learning and expression as outcomes of disciplined spiritual practice.

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

While primarily technical, it aligns with bhakti in practice by making speech and learning instruments of dharma—mantra-japa and sanctified intake are done with faith and purity so that one’s words become truthful, effective, and supportive of sacred recitation and teaching.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights mantra-japa and a ritual preparation/consumption (prayoga) aimed at strengthening vāk (speech) and medhā—skills essential for śikṣā (phonetics), vyākaraṇa (grammar), and disciplined Vedic study and recitation.