Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4

Nityā-paṭala-prakaraṇa

The Exposition of the Nityā-paṭala

Devanagari script

व्योम्ना प्रकाशमानत्वं ग्रसमानत्वमग्निना । तयोर्विमर्श ईकारो बिंदुना तन्निफालनम् ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

vyomnā prakāśamānatvaṃ grasamānatvamagninā | tayorvimarśa īkāro biṃdunā tanniphālanam || 4 ||

Translation

Durch den Raum (vyoman) erscheint das Leuchten; durch das Feuer (agni) das Verzehren. Die besinnende Berührung (vimarśa) beider ist der Vokal „ī“; und durch den Bindu (nasaler Punkt) wird dieser Laut zur Vollendung gebracht (niphālana).

Word by Word

• व्योम्ना: by/with the sky (space)
• व्योम्ना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्योमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; Instrumental singular (by/with the sky/space)

• प्रकाशमानत्वम्: the state of being luminous
• प्रकाशमानत्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकाशमान (कृदन्त, शतृ-प्रत्यय) + त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; abstract noun in -त्व (state of being shining)

• ग्रसमानत्वम्: the state of devouring/consuming
• ग्रसमानत्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रसमान (कृदन्त, शतृ-प्रत्यय; √ग्रस्) + त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; abstract noun in -त्व (state of devouring)

• अग्निना: by/with fire
• अग्निना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; Instrumental singular (by/with fire)

• तयोः: of those two
• तयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; Genitive dual (of those two)

• विमर्शः: reflection/consideration (vimarśa)
• विमर्शः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विमर्श (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• ईकारः: the syllable/letter ī (īkāra)
• ईकारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular (the letter/sound ī)

• बिन्दुना: by/with the bindu (nasal dot)
• बिन्दुना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बिन्दु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; Instrumental singular (by/with the bindu/dot)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; demonstrative (that) qualifying next noun

• निफालनम्: the causing-to-fall / completion (niphālana)
• निफालनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निफालन (प्रातिपदिक; √फल्/फल्-भावे caus./denom. sense)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; action noun (bringing down/causing to fall; completion)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Vyoman (Akasha)

FAQs

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

It frames mantra-sounds as arising from cosmic principles (ākāśa/space and agni/fire), implying that correct phonetic formation is not merely linguistic but a sacred alignment with tattvas.

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

By emphasizing precise sound-completion (through ī-kāra and bindu), it supports bhakti through disciplined japa and mantra-recitation—devotion expressed as correctly articulated sacred sound.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā (Vedic phonetics): how vowels and nasalization/bindu are treated as technical features in mantra pronunciation and completion of utterance.