Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 59

Gaṇeśa Mantra-vidhi: Mahāgaṇapati Gāyatrī, Vakratuṇḍa Mantra, Nyāsa, Homa, Āvaraṇa-pūjā, and Caturthī Vrata

Devanagari script

बीजं वराहो बिंद्धाढ्यौ मन्विंद्वान्नौ कलौ ततः । स्मृतिर्मांसेंदुमन्वाग्रा कर्णोच्छिष्टगणे वदेत् ॥ ५९ ॥

Transliteration

bījaṃ varāho biṃddhāḍhyau manviṃdvānnau kalau tataḥ | smṛtirmāṃseṃdumanvāgrā karṇocchiṣṭagaṇe vadet || 59 ||

Translation

In the so-called “ear-remnant” (karnocchiṣṭa) group, one should recite this mnemonic sequence: “seed (bīja); boar (Varāha); Bindha and Āḍhya; Manu, Indu, and food; then, in Kali; Smṛti; flesh; moon; Manu; the foremost (agra).”

Word by Word

• बीजम्: seed (bīja)
• बीजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बीज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; ‘seed/syllable-seed’

• वराहः: boar
• वराहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वराह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन; ‘boar’

• बिन्दु-आढ्यौ: (two) endowed with bindu
• बिन्दु-आढ्यौ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बिन्दु-आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक); components: बिन्दु (प्रातिपदिक) + आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), द्विवचन; ‘endowed with bindu (nasal dot)’

• मनु-इन्दु-आन्नौ: (two) described as ‘manu–indu–ānna’
• मनु-इन्दु-आन्नौ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनु-इन्दु-आन्न (प्रातिपदिक); components: मनु (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्दु (प्रातिपदिक) + आन्न (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; mantra-technical epithet (textual/बीज-निर्देश)

• कलौ: in the Kali age
• कलौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘in Kali (age)’

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Adverb); ‘then/thereafter’

• स्मृतिः: smṛti (memory)
• स्मृतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्मृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन; ‘memory/smṛti’

• मांस-इन्दु-मनु-अग्रा: described as ‘māṃsa–indu–manu–agra’
• मांस-इन्दु-मनु-अग्रा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मांस-इन्दु-मनु-अग्रा (प्रातिपदिक); components: मांस (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्दु (प्रातिपदिक) + मनु (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; mantra-technical epithet (textual/बीज-निर्देश)

• कर्ण-उच्छिष्ट-गणे: in the ‘karṇocchiṣṭa’ group
• कर्ण-उच्छिष्ट-गणे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण-उच्छिष्ट-गण (प्रातिपदिक); components: कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + उच्छिष्ट (कृदन्त, √शिष्/शेष) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘in the group called karṇa-ucciṣṭa’ (technical gaṇa)

• वदेत्: should say/recite
• वदेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘should say/recite’

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical/vedanga-style register)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Varaha

FAQs

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

Its significance is preservational: it encodes technical knowledge as a memorized sequence, reflecting the Purana’s Vedanga-oriented concern with safeguarding sacred learning through disciplined recitation.

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

Indirectly: by emphasizing accurate transmission and remembrance (smṛti) of sacred terms, it supports bhakti practice that relies on correct chanting, study, and faithful continuity of tradition.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A practical mnemonic/‘gaṇa’ style listing—typical of Vedanga and especially Vyākaraṇa-like pedagogy—showing how technical categories are taught and retained via compact, repeatable strings.