Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 141

Rādhā-sambaddha-mantra-vyākhyā

Rādhā-Related Mantras Explained

Devanagari script

ध्यात्वैवं तोतलां देवीं पूजयेच्छक्तिभिर्वृताम् । तदग्रस्था लु फट्कारी शरचापकरोज्ज्वला ॥ १४१ ॥

Transliteration

dhyātvaivaṃ totalāṃ devīṃ pūjayecchaktibhirvṛtām | tadagrasthā lu phaṭkārī śaracāpakarojjvalā || 141 ||

Translation

Nachdem man so über die Göttin Totalā meditiert hat, soll man sie verehren, umgeben von den Śaktis. Vor ihr steht die Śakti Phaṭkārī, strahlend, mit Bogen und Pfeilen in den Händen.

Word by Word

• ध्यात्वा: having meditated
• ध्यात्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ध्यै (ध्यै चिन्तायाम्) (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वकालिकक्रिया (having meditated)

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

• तोतलाम्: Totala (name/epithet)
• तोतलाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तोतला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (देवीं विशेषयति)

• देवीम्: the goddess
• देवीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पूज् (पूजायाम्) (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• शक्तिभिः: with powers/energies (śaktis)
• शक्तिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• वृताम्: surrounded
• वृताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृत (कृदन्त; √वृ (वृञ्) आवरणे, क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (surrounded/encircled)

• तत्-अग्र-स्था: standing in front of her/that
• तत्-अग्र-स्था: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक) + स्था (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (तस्य अग्रे स्थिता)

• लु: indeed/particle
• लु: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: लु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic/particle; sense uncertain in context)

• फट्कारी: Phaṭkārī (name; one who utters 'phaṭ')
• फट्कारी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फट्कारिन्/फट्कारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नाम/विशेषणरूपेण

• शर-चाप-कर-उज्ज्वला: radiant, holding arrows and bow in hand
• शर-चाप-कर-उज्ज्वला: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक) + चाप (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक) + उज्ज्वल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (शरचापकरैः उज्ज्वला/शरचापं करे यस्याः)

Speaker

Narada (instructive narration within a technical/ritual description)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Totalā Devī
• Śakti
• Phaṭkārī

FAQs

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

It teaches a precise dhyāna-to-pūjā sequence: first visualize the Devī in a defined form, then worship her as inseparable from her surrounding Shaktis—showing that divine power is expressed through attendant energies.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as disciplined upāsanā: devotion becomes concrete through meditation, reverent worship, and honoring the Devī’s manifested powers (Shaktis) as part of her divine presence.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects a technical ritual framework—dhyāna-lakṣaṇa (visualization details) and pūjā-vidhi (procedure)—with mantra-linked naming (e.g., Phaṭkārī), aligning with the Narada Purana’s Book 1.3 focus on structured sacred practice.