Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 84

Yakṣiṇī-Mantra-Sādhana Nirūpaṇa

Lakṣmī-avatāra-vidyāḥ: Bālā, Annapūrṇā, Bagalā

Devanagari script

पीताजरायुक्प्रतिष्ठा पुनर्दीर्धोदसंयुता । वाचं मुखं पदं स्तंभयांते जिह्वापदं वदेत् ॥ ८४ ॥

Transliteration

pītājarāyukpratiṣṭhā punardīrdhodasaṃyutā | vācaṃ mukhaṃ padaṃ staṃbhayāṃte jihvāpadaṃ vadet || 84 ||

Translation

Auf einer gelblichen, membranartigen Stütze gegründet und wiederum mit einem langen Fluss von Feuchtigkeit versehen, wird die Rede—deren Sitz der Mund ist—gehemmt; dann soll der auf der Zunge beruhende Laut/„Schritt“ (jihvā-pada) gesprochen werden.

Word by Word

• pīta-ajarāyuk-pratiṣṭhā: having yellow (and) ajarāyuk-pratiṣṭhā
• pīta-ajarāyuk-pratiṣṭhā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pīta (प्रातिपदिक) + ajarāyuk (प्रातिपदिक) + pratiṣṭhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारयः—‘the pratiṣṭhā which is yellow and (with) ajarāyuk’ (epithet)

• punaḥ: again / further
• punaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• dīrgha-udasaṃyutā: joined with long ‘udas’
• dīrgha-udasaṃyutā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dīrgha (प्रातिपदिक) + udas (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃyuta (कृदन्त, √yuj)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुषः—‘joined with long udas’

• vācam: speech
• vācam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• mukham: mouth
• mukham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• padam: word/step/foot
• padam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• staṃbhayāṃte: they paralyze / they stop
• staṃbhayāṃte: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √staṃbh (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन); Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद) form; causative sense ‘they cause to be immobilized’ (स्तम्भयन्ते)

• jihvā-padam: the tongue-word / tongue-position
• jihvā-padam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jihvā (प्रातिपदिक) + pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुषः—‘the word/position of the tongue’

• vadet: one should say / should utter
• vadet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vad (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It links spiritual efficacy of mantra to disciplined sound-production: when speech is obstructed or unstable, one should rely on correct articulatory placement (especially tongue-position) so recitation remains precise and effective.

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

Bhakti in Purāṇic practice is sustained through nāma and mantra; this verse supports devotion by emphasizing accurate vocal expression, preventing defects in chanting that can weaken focused remembrance of the deity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā (Vedic phonetics): it points to articulatory bases—mouth as the seat of speech and the tongue-position (jihvā-pada)—as practical guidance for correct pronunciation in mantra recitation.