Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 101

Pañca-prakṛti-nirūpaṇa and Mantra-vidhi: Rādhā, Mahālakṣmī, Durgā, Sarasvatī, Sāvitrī; plus Sāvitrī-Pañjara

Devanagari script

पूर्वमंगानि षट्कोणे प्रज्ञाद्याः प्रयजेद्बहिः । प्रज्ञा मेधा श्रुतिः शक्तिः स्मृतिर्वागीश्वरी मतिः ॥ १०१ ॥

Transliteration

pūrvamaṃgāni ṣaṭkoṇe prajñādyāḥ prayajedbahiḥ | prajñā medhā śrutiḥ śaktiḥ smṛtirvāgīśvarī matiḥ || 101 ||

Translation

In the six-pointed hexagon, one should first worship the aṅgas (auxiliary limbs); and outside it one should worship the deities beginning with Prajñā—namely Prajñā (wisdom), Medhā (intellect), Śruti (sacred learning), Śakti (power), Smṛti (memory), Vāgīśvarī (mistress of speech), and Mati (discernment).

Word by Word

• पूर्व-अङ्गानि: the preceding parts/limbs
• पूर्व-अङ्गानि: कर्म (Object; understood with प्रयजेत्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (‘earlier/preceding limbs/parts’)

• षट्-कोणे: in the hexagon
• षट्-कोणे: अधिकरण (Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + कोण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (षट् कोणाः यस्य/षट्कोणः = hexagon)

• प्रज्ञा-आद्याः: (deities) beginning with Prajñā
• प्रज्ञा-आद्याः: कर्म (Object; apposition to names)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (प्रज्ञा आदिः यासाम् = ‘those beginning with Prajñā’)

• प्रयजेत्: should worship (in sequence)
• प्रयजेत्: क्रिया (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √यज् (धातु) + प्र (उपसर्ग)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• बहिः: outside
• बहिः: देशाधिकरण (place)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहिः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: outside)

• प्रज्ञा: Prajñā (wisdom)
• प्रज्ञा: सम्बोधन/निर्देश (Name in list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मेधा: Medhā (intelligence)
• मेधा: सम्बोधन/निर्देश
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेधा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• श्रुतिः: Śruti (revelation/hearing)
• श्रुतिः: सम्बोधन/निर्देश
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शक्तिः: Śakti (power)
• शक्तिः: सम्बोधन/निर्देश
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• स्मृतिः: Smṛti (memory/tradition)
• स्मृतिः: सम्बोधन/निर्देश
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्मृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वाक्-ईश्वरी: Vāgīśvarī (lady of speech)
• वाक्-ईश्वरी: सम्बोधन/निर्देश
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक् (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (वाचः ईश्वरी = ‘mistress of speech’)

• मतिः: Mati (thought)
• मतिः: सम्बोधन/निर्देश
• Type: Noun
• Root: मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a technical-ritual context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Prajñā
• Medhā
• Śruti
• Śakti
• Smṛti
• Vāgīśvarī
• Mati

FAQs

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

It maps inner faculties of sacred learning—wisdom, intellect, Vedic reception, power, memory, eloquence, and discernment—onto a precise ritual geometry, showing that knowledge is cultivated through both disciplined practice and divine invocation.

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

Even in a technical (Vedāṅga-like) ritual setting, the verse frames learning as worship: the seeker approaches knowledge as a set of venerable śaktis, aligning devotion with study, remembrance, and right speech.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights mantra-nyāsa and yantra-based worship procedure—how to place and honor specific knowledge-powers in and around a ṣaṭkoṇa diagram, supporting disciplines like śikṣā (correct recitation) and vyākaraṇa (clarity of speech).