Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 3

Bhuvaneśī (Nidrā-Śakti) Mantra-vidhi, Nyāsa–Āvaraṇa Worship, Padma-homa Prayogas, and the Opening of Śrī-Mahālakṣmī Upāsanā

Devanagari script

जानुमात्रे स्थितौ दृष्ट्वा ब्रह्मणं कमलस्थितम् । प्रवृत्तावत्तुमालक्ष्य तुष्टाव जगदंबिकाम् ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

jānumātre sthitau dṛṣṭvā brahmaṇaṃ kamalasthitam | pravṛttāvattumālakṣya tuṣṭāva jagadaṃbikām || 3 ||

Translation

Seeing Brahmā seated upon the lotus, and noticing that he had begun to devour it, she praised Jagadambikā, the Mother of the universe.

Word by Word

• jānu-mātre: up to the knee (in depth/level)
• jānu-mātre: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jānu (प्रातिपदिक) + mātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; परिमाणवाचक—‘जानोः मात्रे’ (up to the knee)

• sthitau: standing
• sthitau: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sthita (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √sthā)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past participle); विशेषणम्—(मधुकैटभौ)

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriya (क्रिया—पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal); पूर्वक्रिया

• brahmaṇam: Brahmā
• brahmaṇam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• kamala-sthitam: seated in the lotus
• kamala-sthitam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kamala (प्रातिपदिक) + sthita (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √sthā)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त; विशेषणम्—‘brahmaṇam’; ‘कमले स्थितः’

• pravṛttau: having set about (engaged)
• pravṛttau: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pravṛtta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √vṛt with pra-)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; भूतकृदन्त; विशेषणम्—(तौ)

• attum: to eat
• attum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ad (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), अव्ययभाव; प्रयोजन/इच्छार्थ (to eat)

• ālakṣya: having noticed
• ālakṣya: Kriya (क्रिया—पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: lakṣ (धातु) with ā- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त-समकक्ष (gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘आ-लक्ष्य’ = having noticed

• tuṣṭāva: praised
• tuṣṭāva: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: stu (धातु) with tus-/tuṣṭāva as perfect stem
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• jagat-ambikām: the Mother of the world
• jagat-ambikām: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक) + ambikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; ‘जगतः अम्बिका’

Speaker

Narada (narrating within the Narada Purana dialogue tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Jagadambika

FAQs

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

It frames a moment of cosmic crisis or transition—Brahmā’s action is observed, and the immediate refuge is taken in praise of Jagadambikā, highlighting stuti (devotional eulogy) as a direct spiritual response.

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

Bhakti is shown as prompt remembrance and praise of the Divine (here, the World-Mother) when witnessing unsettling or extraordinary events; devotion becomes the stabilizing, protective act.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

While not a technical Vedanga instruction, it reflects the Purāṇic application of mantra/stuti practice—structured praise used as a ritual-devotional tool, aligning with the broader liturgical use of chandas and proper recitation.