Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 83

Bhāgīratha’s Bringing of the Gaṅgā

Devanagari script

नमः पिनाकहस्ताय शूलहस्ताय ते नमः । नमः कपालहस्ताय पाशमुद्गरधारिणे ॥ ८३ ॥

Transliteration

namaḥ pinākahastāya śūlahastāya te namaḥ | namaḥ kapālahastāya pāśamudgaradhāriṇe || 83 ||

Translation

Salutations to You who hold the Pināka bow; salutations to You who bear the trident. Salutations to You who carry a skull; to You who wield the noose and the mace.

Word by Word

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: सम्बोधन/उद्गार (Sambodhana/उद्गार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; नमस्कारार्थक

• पिनाक-हस्ताय: to the one who holds the Pināka bow
• पिनाक-हस्ताय: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिनाक (प्रातिपदिक) + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (पिनाकः हस्ते यस्य सः)

• शूल-हस्ताय: to the one who holds a trident
• शूल-हस्ताय: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूल (प्रातिपदिक) + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (शूलं हस्ते यस्य सः)

• ते: to you
• ते: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी (4th) एकवचन; सर्वनाम; ‘तुभ्यम्/ते’ (enclitic)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: सम्बोधन/उद्गार (Sambodhana/उद्गार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; नमस्कारार्थक

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: सम्बोधन/उद्गार (Sambodhana/उद्गार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; नमस्कारार्थक

• कपाल-हस्ताय: to the one who holds a skull
• कपाल-हस्ताय: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपाल (प्रातिपदिक) + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (कपालं हस्ते यस्य सः)

• पाश-मुद्गर-धारिणे: to the bearer of a noose and a mace
• पाश-मुद्गर-धारिणे: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाश (प्रातिपदिक) + मुद्गर (प्रातिपदिक) + धारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (पाशं मुद्गरं च धारयति इति)

Speaker

Narada (hymnic praise within the narrative tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Pinakadhara, Shulahasta)

FAQs

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

It is a concentrated act of namaskāra (reverential surrender) that contemplates Shiva through his emblematic implements, training the mind to recognize divine sovereignty, protection, and restraint of ego.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as repeated salutations (namaḥ) paired with remembrance of the Lord’s forms and symbols; this steady recollection (smaraṇa) and reverence (vandana) is a practical devotional discipline.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Primarily Śikṣā and Chandas in practice: the verse is meant for correct recitation with clear phonetics and rhythm, supporting stotra-usage in pūjā and japa rather than technical instruction in astrology or grammar.