Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 160

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

Devanagari script

ज्योत्स्ना तीर्थमयी रम्या सौम्यामृतमया तथा । ब्राह्मी हैमी भुजंगी च वशिनी सुंदरी वनी ॥ १६० ॥

Transliteration

jyotsnā tīrthamayī ramyā saumyāmṛtamayā tathā | brāhmī haimī bhujaṃgī ca vaśinī suṃdarī vanī || 160 ||

Translation

Man nennt sie Jyotsnā (Mondlicht), Tīrthamayī (Verkörperung der heiligen Tīrthas), Ramyā (entzückend) und ebenso Saumyāmṛtamayā (aus sanftem Nektar gewoben). Sie ist auch Brāhmī (vedische Weisheit), Haimī (golden), Bhujaṅgī (schlangenhaft), Vaśinī (bezwingend), Sundarī (schön) und Vanī (der Wälder).

Word by Word

• ज्योत्स्ना: moonlight
• ज्योत्स्ना: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्योत्स्ना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन

• तीर्थमयी: full of sacredness; consisting of tīrthas
• तीर्थमयी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीर्थ + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा, एकवचन; तीर्थमयः (consisting of sacred ford/pilgrimage)

• रम्या: lovely, delightful
• रम्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• सौम्यामृतमया: made of gentle nectar; nectar-like and soothing
• सौम्यामृतमया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सौम्य + अमृत + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा, एकवचन; सौम्यं च तत् अमृतं च (nectar-like, gentle) + मय (consisting of)

• तथा: thus; also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), क्रियाविशेषण/समुच्चयार्थ (adverbial: ‘thus/also’)

• ब्राह्मी: Brāhmī (goddess-name)
• ब्राह्मी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा, एकवचन; देवी/शक्ति-नाम

• हैमी: golden
• हैमी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हैम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘हेमसम्बन्धिनी’ (golden)

• भुजंगी: serpent-like; (female) serpent
• भुजंगी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुजङ्गी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘सर्पिणी’ (female serpent) / देवी-विशेषण

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

• वशिनी: controlling; enchanting
• वशिनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वशिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वशकर्त्री/वशीकरणसमर्था (one who controls/enchants)

• सुंदरी: beautiful
• सुंदरी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुन्दरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• वनी: of the forest; forest-dwelling
• वनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वनी (प्रातिपदिक; from वनिन्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वनसम्बद्धा/वनवासिनी (forest-dwelling/connected with forest)

Speaker

Narada (in a transmitted list within the Vedanga/technical section, traditionally taught in dialogue with Sanatkumara lineage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It presents a contemplative name-list where each epithet points to a distinct sacred quality—radiance (jyotsnā), sanctifying power (tīrthamayī), nectar-like auspiciousness (saumyāmṛtamayā), and enchanting mastery (vaśinī)—used for remembrance and mantra-oriented worship.

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

Bhakti here is practiced through nāma-smaraṇa: meditating on layered divine names that evoke beauty, purity, and sanctity, helping the devotee focus the mind and cultivate reverence toward the sacred presence pervading tīrthas and nature.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects the Vedanga-style technical handling of nāma (nomenclature) and mantra vocabulary—how epithets encode attributes for recitation, visualization, and ritual application (e.g., tīrtha-related sanctification and saumya/amṛta auspiciousness).