Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 86

Mantra-Māhātmya and Sādhana of Kārtavīryārjuna

Nyāsa, Yantra, Homa, and Dīpa-Vrata

Devanagari script

क्रतुदीक्षितहस्ताय दत्तात्रेयप्रियाय च । आत्रेयायानुसूयांते गर्भरत्नाय तत्परम् ॥ ८६ ॥

Transliteration

kratudīkṣitahastāya dattātreyapriyāya ca | ātreyāyānusūyāṃte garbharatnāya tatparam || 86 ||

Translation

Dem, dessen Hände für Opferhandlungen geweiht sind, dem Liebling Dattātreyas; dem Ātreya — o Anusūyā — und dem Juwel im Schoß (dem Ungeborenen), sei dies in voller Bhakti dargebracht.

Word by Word

• क्रतुदीक्षितहस्ताय: to (him) whose hand is consecrated for the rite
• क्रतुदीक्षितहस्ताय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रतु + दीक्षित + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), चतुर्थी विभक्ति (Dative), एकवचन (Singular); बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (क्रतौ दीक्षितस्य हस्तः—तस्मै)

• दत्तात्रेयप्रियाय: to the beloved of Dattātreya
• दत्तात्रेयप्रियाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दत्तात्रेय + प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), चतुर्थी विभक्ति (Dative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (दत्तात्रेयस्य प्रियः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• आत्रेयाय: to Ātreya
• आत्रेयाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्रेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), चतुर्थी विभक्ति (Dative), एकवचन (Singular)

• अनुसूया-अन्ते: at the end of (the word) ‘Anusūyā’
• अनुसूया-अन्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुसूया + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुषः (अनुसूयायाः अन्तः)

• गर्भरत्नाय: to Garbharatna
• गर्भरत्नाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्भ + रत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), चतुर्थी विभक्ति (Dative), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुषः (गर्भस्य रत्नम्—तस्मै)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (demonstrative)

• परम्: next/further
• परम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (superlative/‘next’)

Speaker

Narada (within a Vedanga/ritual-technical context; dedicatory invocation style)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Dattatreya
• Atri (implied by Ātreya)
• Anusuya

FAQs

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

It functions like a dedicatory salutation: the merit of a rite is consciously offered to revered figures (Dattātreya/Ātreya/Anusūyā) and to the “garbha-ratna,” emphasizing intention (tatparam) as essential to dharmic action.

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

Bhakti here appears as purposeful offering—directing one’s ritual power and inner intent toward the revered lineage associated with Dattātreya, showing that devotion can be expressed through consecrated action and heartfelt dedication.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds ritual discipline—dīkṣā (consecration) and kratu (sacrificial procedure)—key concerns of Kalpa/Vedanga-style practice, where correct preparation and intentional offering determine the efficacy of rites.