Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 182

Rādhā-sambaddha-mantra-vyākhyā

Rādhā-Related Mantras Explained

Devanagari script

कृत्वा नामावृतां शक्तिं गणैस्तत्रार्चयेच्छिवाम् । एषा ते द्वादशी नित्या प्रोक्ता नीलपताकिनी ॥ १८२ ॥

Transliteration

kṛtvā nāmāvṛtāṃ śaktiṃ gaṇaistatrārcayecchivām | eṣā te dvādaśī nityā proktā nīlapatākinī || 182 ||

Translation

Nachdem man eine «Śakti» (rituelles Zeichen/Diagramm) bereitet hat, die von den heiligen Namen umschlossen ist, soll man dort Śivā zusammen mit den Gaṇas verehren. Dies ist für dich die immerwährende Dvādaśī-Observanz, die verkündet wurde—das Gelübde namens Nīlapatākinī.

Word by Word

• कृत्वा: having done/made
• कृत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having done’

• नाम: name
• नाम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (indeclinable-like usage as ‘name’)

• आवृताम्: covered/encircled
• आवृताम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-वृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past Passive Participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘covered/encircled’ (qualifying शक्तिम्)

• शक्तिम्: power/śakti
• शक्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• गणैः: with groups/attendants
• गणैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• अर्चयेत्: should worship
• अर्चयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• शिवाम्: Śivā (Goddess)
• शिवाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• एषा: this (she/this one)
• एषा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• ते: your/for you
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/genitive) एकवचन; ‘of you/for you’ (contextual)

• द्वादशी: the twelfth lunar day
• द्वादशी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (tithi-name)

• नित्या: eternal/regular
• नित्या: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (qualifying द्वादशी)

• प्रोक्ता: declared
• प्रोक्ता: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past Passive Participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘said/declared’

• नीलपताकिनी: (she) the blue-bannered one
• नीलपताकिनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नील + पताकिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘नीला पताका यस्याः/या’ (as epithet)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Vedanga/vrata context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Nīlapatākinī Dvādaśī (nitya)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Shivā/Devi)
• Ganas

FAQs

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

It presents Dvādaśī as a “nitya” (regular, enduring) observance and links its power to nāma (sacred names) and devatā-arcana—showing that disciplined worship structured by mantra/names sustains spiritual merit.

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

Bhakti is expressed through deliberate, name-centered worship: creating a sacred focus “encircled by names” and offering reverence to Śivā with her attendants, emphasizing devotion supported by ritual attention and remembrance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects ritual-technical practice: constructing a worship-support (śakti/diagram) and timing it with the lunar day (Dvādaśī), aligning observance with calendrical discipline and mantra/name usage.