Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

माया बीजं रमा शक्तिर्दृष्टादृष्टे नियोगकः । सत्याय हृदयं पश्चाद्ब्रह्मणे शिर ईरितम् ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

māyā bījaṃ ramā śaktirdṛṣṭādṛṣṭe niyogakaḥ | satyāya hṛdayaṃ paścādbrahmaṇe śira īritam || 4 ||

Translation

Māyā is declared to be the seed; Ramā (Lakṣmī) is the Śakti, the power; and He is the director of both the seen and the unseen. Thereafter, the Heart is said for Satya, and the Head is proclaimed for Brahmā.

Word by Word

• māyā: Māyā
• māyā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• bījam: seed
• bījam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/predicative complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bīja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Prathamā/ Dvitīyā vibhakti (Nom/Acc), Ekavacana; here as predicate-noun ‘(is) seed’

• ramā: Ramā (Lakṣmī)
• ramā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ramā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• śaktiḥ: power
• śaktiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• dṛṣṭa-adṛṣṭe: in the seen and the unseen
• dṛṣṭa-adṛṣṭe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dṛṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त) + adṛṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Saptamī vibhakti (Locative/7th), Dvivacana (dual); द्वन्द्व: ‘in the seen and unseen’

• niyogakaḥ: one who appoints/ordains
• niyogakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niyogaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• satyāya: to Satya
• satyāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (or as deity-name), Caturthī vibhakti (Dative/4th), Ekavacana

• hṛdayam: heart
• hṛdayam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hṛdaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Prathamā/ Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; here as ‘heart (is said)’

• paścāt: afterwards
• paścāt: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paścāt (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (कालवाचक-अव्यय) ‘afterwards’

• brahmaṇe: to Brahman/Brahmā
• brahmaṇe: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (or as Brahmā in dative), Caturthī vibhakti, Ekavacana

• śiraḥ: head
• śiraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Prathamā/ Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; here as ‘head (is said)’

• īritam: is declared
• īritam: Kriyā (क्रिया/predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √īr (ईर् धातु) → īrita (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Kṛdanta (past passive participle, क्त); Napuṃsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana agreeing with śiraḥ/hṛdayam; ‘is stated/declared’

Speaker

Narada (within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue framework)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Maya
• Rama (Lakshmi)
• Satya
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It frames a technical-spiritual map: Māyā as the causal “seed,” Lakṣmī as the operative “power,” and the Lord as the regulator of both visible and invisible outcomes—showing how inner principles govern outer ritual and lived results.

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

By identifying Ramā (Lakṣmī) as Śakti and placing governance of all outcomes in the Divine, it encourages reliance on the Lord’s ordering power rather than ego-driven control—supporting devotional surrender while engaging sacred practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects mantra-śāstra/ritual procedure (used alongside Vedāṅga-informed practice): identifying bīja and śakti and indicating deity-body placements (heart/head), a pattern consistent with viniyoga/nyāsa style technical application.