Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 3

Śeṣoditya-Sūrya-nyāsa, Soma-sādhana, Graha-pūjā, and Bhauma-vrata-vidhi

Devanagari script

शेषोदित्य इति प्रोक्तो वस्वर्णो भुक्तिमुक्तिदः । देवभागो मुनिश्छन्दो गायत्री देवता रविः ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

śeṣoditya iti prokto vasvarṇo bhuktimuktidaḥ | devabhāgo muniśchando gāyatrī devatā raviḥ || 3 ||

Translation

He is proclaimed as “Śeṣoditya,” radiant with golden splendor, the bestower of both worldly enjoyment and liberation. The seer is Devabhāga, the metre is Gāyatrī, and the presiding deity is Ravi, the Sun.

Word by Word

• śeṣa-udityaḥ: (the name) Śeṣa-Uditya
• śeṣa-udityaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śeṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + uditya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masculine), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/1st), Ekavacana (singular); समासः—कर्मधारय (appositional)

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; iti—quotative particle (इति-निपात)

• proktaḥ: is said/declared
• proktaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच् धातु) → prokta (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Kṛdanta (past passive participle, क्त-प्रत्यय); Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; passive sense ‘said/declared’

• vasu-varṇaḥ: (having) the Vasu-class/colour
• vasu-varṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasu (प्रातिपदिक) + varṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): ‘of the Vasus’ + ‘color/class’

• bhukti-mukti-daḥ: giver of enjoyment and liberation
• bhukti-mukti-daḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhukti (प्रातिपदिक) + mukti (प्रातिपदिक) + da (प्रातिपदिक from √dā)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; उपपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘giver (द) of enjoyment and liberation’

• deva-bhāgaḥ: divine portion
• deva-bhāgaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; तत्पुरुष: ‘divine portion/share’

• muniḥ: sage
• muniḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• chandaḥ: meter
• chandaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: chandas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), Prathamā vibhakti, Ekavacana

• gāyatrī: Gāyatrī
• gāyatrī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gāyatrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (feminine), Prathamā vibhakti, Ekavacana

• devatā: presiding deity
• devatā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• raviḥ: Ravi (Sun)
• raviḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ravi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical, Vedanga-style mantra-anukramanika format)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Ravi (Surya)

FAQs

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

It identifies a specific Surya-mantra by giving its traditional mantra-credentials—name (Śeṣoditya), spiritual fruit (bhukti and mukti), and its ṛṣi–chandas–devatā—showing that correct Vedic framing is part of effective upāsanā.

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

By presenting the Sun (Ravi) as a worship-worthy devatā who can grant both worldly well-being and liberation, it supports disciplined devotional practice (upāsanā) aligned with scriptural parameters rather than mere sentiment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Mantra-anukramaṇī style knowledge: the assignment of ṛṣi (Devabhāga), chandas (Gāyatrī), and devatā (Ravi), which is essential for correct ritual recitation and application in Vedic practice.