Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 13

Hayagrīva-pūjā-vyākhyāna

Worship Procedure and Mantra-Siddhi of Hayagrīva

Devanagari script

ऐरावतः पुण्डरीको वामनः कुमुदोंऽजनः । पुष्पदंतः सार्वभौमः सुप्रतीकश्च दिग्गजाः ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

airāvataḥ puṇḍarīko vāmanaḥ kumudoṃ'janaḥ | puṣpadaṃtaḥ sārvabhaumaḥ supratīkaśca diggajāḥ || 13 ||

Translation

Airāvata, Puṇḍarīka, Vāmana, Kumuda, Añjana, Puṣpadanta, Sārvabhauma und Supratīka — dies sind die Elefanten der Himmelsrichtungen.

Word by Word

• ऐरावतः: Airāvata
• ऐरावतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऐरावत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• पुण्डरीकः: Puṇḍarīka
• पुण्डरीकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्डरीक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वामनः: Vāmana
• वामनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वामन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कुमुदः: Kumuda
• कुमुदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमुद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अञ्जनः: Añjana
• अञ्जनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अञ्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पुष्पदन्तः: Puṣpadanta (one with flower-like tusks)
• पुष्पदन्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प + दन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: पुष्पदन्तः = पुष्पसदृशाः दन्ताः यस्य सः (बहुव्रीहि)

• सार्वभौमः: Sārvabhauma
• सार्वभौमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सार्व + भौम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: सर्वभौमः इव/सार्वभौमः (कर्मधारय—‘universal/imperial’)

• सुप्रतीकः: Supratīka
• सुप्रतीकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु + प्रतीक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: सु-प्रतीकः (उपसर्गपूर्वक-कर्मधारय)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• दिग्गजाः: directional elephants
• दिग्गजाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिक् + गज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समास: दिशां गजाः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Sage Nārada (in discourse with the Sanatkumāra tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Airāvata
• Puṇḍarīka
• Vāmana
• Kumuda
• Añjana
• Puṣpadanta
• Sārvabhauma
• Supratīka
• Diggajas

FAQs

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

It preserves the traditional cosmic order by naming the diggajas—mythic supports of the quarters—used to contemplate and ritually orient oneself within a dharmic universe.

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

Indirectly: by mapping the sacred cosmos, it supports devotional practice where worship, pilgrimage, and offerings are performed with awareness of the divine order of space (dik), strengthening reverence and discipline.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Practical orientation knowledge used in ritual layout and cosmographic/astrological frameworks—identifying the quarters and their traditional guardians (diggajas) relevant to directional conventions.