Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 172

The Account of the Lalitā Hymn, the Protective Armor

Kavaca), and the Thousand Names (Sahasranāma

Devanagari script

नवावृत्त्या मन्मथाभो विक्षोभयति भूतलम् । दशावृत्त्या पठेन्नित्यं वाग्लक्ष्मीकांतिसिद्धये ॥ १७२ ॥

Transliteration

navāvṛttyā manmathābho vikṣobhayati bhūtalam | daśāvṛttyā paṭhennityaṃ vāglakṣmīkāṃtisiddhaye || 172 ||

Translation

Durch neun Wiederholungen bringt der wie Manmatha (Kāma) Strahlende die Erde in Bewegung. Durch zehn Wiederholungen soll man es täglich rezitieren, um Vollkommenheit in Rede, Wohlstand und Glanz zu erlangen.

Word by Word

• nava-āvṛttyā: by nine repetitions
• nava-āvṛttyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nava (प्रातिपदिक) + āvṛtti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः

• manmatha-ābhaḥ: having the beauty of Cupid
• manmatha-ābhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: manmatha (प्रातिपदिक) + ābha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—'manmatha iva ābhaḥ' (having the appearance of Manmatha)

• vikṣobhayati: agitates/disturbs
• vikṣobhayati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṣubh (धातु) with उपसर्ग vi-; causative (णिजन्त)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद; णिजन्त (causative)

• bhū-talam: the earth’s surface
• bhū-talam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhū (प्रातिपदिक) + tala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—'bhūmeḥ talam' (surface of the earth)

• daśa-āvṛttyā: by ten repetitions
• daśa-āvṛttyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśa (प्रातिपदिक) + āvṛtti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः

• paṭhet: should recite/read
• paṭhet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √paṭh (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverbial accusative), अर्थः—'always/daily'

• vāk-lakṣmī-kānti-siddhaye: for the attainment of eloquence, prosperity, and radiance
• vāk-lakṣmī-kānti-siddhaye: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक) + lakṣmī (प्रातिपदिक) + kānti (प्रातिपदिक) + siddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्वपूर्वपद (vāk, lakṣmī, kānti) + तत्पुरुषार्थः—'...-siddhaye' (for the attainment of ...)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Characters & Entities

• Manmatha (Kama)
• Lakshmi

FAQs

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

It teaches a disciplined, count-based recitation (āvṛtti) method and links specific repetition numbers with defined fruits—worldly attraction/impact and the refined attainments of speech, prosperity, and personal radiance.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as faithful daily pāṭha (nityam paṭhet): steady remembrance through recitation that purifies expression (vāk) and aligns one’s life with auspiciousness (lakṣmī) and inner/outer brilliance (kānti).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights a technical recitation protocol—āvṛtti (repetition count) and nitya-pāṭha (daily practice)—a common Vedāṅga-style procedural emphasis used to standardize ritual/chanting outcomes.