Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 35

Rādhā-sambaddha-mantra-vyākhyā

Rādhā-Related Mantras Explained

Devanagari script

षड्दीर्घाढ्येन बीजेन कुर्याश्चैव षडंगकम् । लोहितां ललितां बाणचापपाशसृणीः करैः ॥ ३५ ॥

Transliteration

ṣaḍdīrghāḍhyena bījena kuryāścaiva ṣaḍaṃgakam | lohitāṃ lalitāṃ bāṇacāpapāśasṛṇīḥ karaiḥ || 35 ||

Translation

Mit dem Bīja-Mantra, das mit sechs langen Vokalen erfüllt ist, vollziehe man die sechsgliedrige (ṣaḍaṅga) Nyāsa. Dann meditiere man die Göttin, rot von Glanz und anmutig zart, die in ihren Händen Pfeil, Bogen, Schlinge (pāśa) und Treibhaken (aṅkuśa) trägt.

Word by Word

• षट्-दीर्घ-आढ्येन: with (a seed) endowed with six long vowels
• षट्-दीर्घ-आढ्येन: करण (Instrument; qualifier of बीजेन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षट् + दीर्घ + आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: षड्भिः दीर्घैः आढ्यः (endowed with six long vowels)

• बीजेन: with the seed-syllable
• बीजेन: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बीज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• कुर्यात्: should make/do
• कुर्यात्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: अवधारण (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis particle)

• षट्-अङ्गकम्: the sixfold (ṣaḍaṅga)
• षट्-अङ्गकम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट् + अङ्गक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; द्विगु: षड् अङ्गानि यस्य/षडङ्ग-रूपम् (six-limbed form/rite)

• लोहिताम्: red (one)
• लोहिताम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोहिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; (देवीम्/मूर्तिम्) विशेषयति

• ललिताम्: graceful/beautiful
• ललिताम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ललिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• बाण-चाप-पाश-सृणीः: arrows, bow, noose, and goad
• बाण-चाप-पाश-सृणीः: कर्म (Object; what is held/visualized)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण + चाप + पाश + सृणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व: बाणं च चापं च पाशं च सृणीं च (four items)

• करैः: with (her) hands
• करैः: करण (Instrument/means; ‘with (her) hands’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Devi (Goddess)
• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It links precise mantra-phonetics (a seed-mantra characterized by long vowels) with inner sanctification through ṣaḍaṅga-nyāsa and focused deity-visualization, showing that correct sound, placement, and contemplation together make worship effective.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as disciplined upāsanā: the devotee performs nyāsa and then lovingly meditates on the Goddess’ form—red and graceful—so devotion becomes steady through clear visualization and mantra-anchored attention.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā (Vedic phonetics) is implied by the emphasis on dīrgha (long vowels) in the bīja, and Kalpa-style ritual procedure is reflected in the instruction to perform ṣaḍaṅga-nyāsa as a standardized preparatory rite.