Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 103

Pañca-prakṛti-nirūpaṇa and Mantra-vidhi: Rādhā, Mahālakṣmī, Durgā, Sarasvatī, Sāvitrī; plus Sāvitrī-Pañjara

Devanagari script

एवं संपूज्य वाग्देवीं साक्षाद्वाग्वल्लभो भवेत् । ब्रह्मचर्यरतः शुद्धः शुद्धदंतनखा दिकः ॥ १०३ ॥

Transliteration

evaṃ saṃpūjya vāgdevīṃ sākṣādvāgvallabho bhavet | brahmacaryarataḥ śuddhaḥ śuddhadaṃtanakhā dikaḥ || 103 ||

Translation

So wird man, nachdem man Vāgdevī, die Göttin der Rede, ordnungsgemäß verehrt hat, gleichsam unmittelbar zum Geliebten der Rede selbst. Dem Brahmacarya ergeben und gereinigt—Zähne, Nägel und dergleichen sauber haltend—erlangt man diese Befähigung.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb: thus/in this manner)

• सम्-पूज्य: having duly worshipped
• सम्-पूज्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Absolutive; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पूज् (धातु) + सम् (उपसर्ग)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभावः; ‘having worshipped’

• वाक्-देवीम्: Vāgdevī (goddess of speech)
• वाक्-देवीम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक् (प्रातिपदिक) + देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (वाचः देवी = ‘goddess of speech’)

• साक्षात्: directly
• साक्षात्: क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रत्यक्षार्थक (adverb: directly/in person)

• वाक्-वल्लभः: beloved of speech (eloquent one)
• वाक्-वल्लभः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक् (प्रातिपदिक) + वल्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (वाचः वल्लभः = ‘beloved of speech’)

• भवेत्: would become/should become
• भवेत्: क्रिया (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• ब्रह्मचर्य-रतः: devoted to celibacy
• ब्रह्मचर्य-रतः: विशेषण (of the subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मचर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + रत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्मचर्ये रतः = ‘devoted to celibacy’)

• शुद्धः: pure
• शुद्धः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शुद्ध-दन्त-नखः: having clean teeth and nails
• शुद्ध-दन्त-नखः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + दन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + नख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (शुद्धौ दन्तौ नखौ यस्य = ‘one whose teeth and nails are clean’)

• आदिकः: and so on (with other disciplines)
• आदिकः: विशेषण (etc.)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आदिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘etc./and so on’—अत्र गुणसमुच्चय-समाप्त्यर्थे

Speaker

Narada (instructional teaching within the Vedanga/learning context, traditionally framed in Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vagdevī (Vāk/Sarasvatī)

FAQs

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

It links vāk-siddhi (mastery of speech) to two pillars: devatā-upāsanā (worship of the presiding deity of speech) and śauca-brahmacarya (inner/outer purity and disciplined conduct), implying that learning becomes fruitful when supported by vow and cleanliness.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as reverent, methodical worship of Vagdevī; the verse teaches that devotion is not only feeling but also disciplined living, through which divine grace manifests as clarity, eloquence, and right expression.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It emphasizes the practical discipline needed for Vedic study—especially śikṣā (proper speech/sound) and supportive conduct (brahmacarya, cleanliness)—as prerequisites for accurate recitation, learning, and effective expression.