Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 156

Devanagari script

देवता जगतां मोहे जगन्नाथः प्रकीर्तितः । कामो बीजं रमा शक्तिर्विनियोगो।़खिलाप्तये ॥ १५६ ॥

Transliteration

devatā jagatāṃ mohe jagannāthaḥ prakīrtitaḥ | kāmo bījaṃ ramā śaktirviniyogo |़khilāptaye || 156 ||

Translation

Pour le rite concernant l’illusion/l’envoûtement des êtres, la divinité présidante est proclamée Jagannātha, le Seigneur de l’univers. «Kāma» est le bīja (mantra-graine) ; «Ramā» (Lakṣmī) est la śakti (puissance) ; et son viniyoga (application) vise l’obtention de tous les fruits désirés.

Word by Word

• देवता: the deity
• देवता: कर्ता (Kartā/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• जगताम्: of the worlds
• जगताम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/possessive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• मोहे: in delusion
• मोहे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/location/state)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• जगन्नाथः: Jagannātha (Lord of the world)
• जगन्नाथः: कर्ता (Kartā/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक) + नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—जगतः नाथः (lord of the world)

• प्रकीर्तितः: is proclaimed
• प्रकीर्तितः: क्रिया-विशेषण/विधेय (Predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + कीर्त् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘is proclaimed’

• कामः: Kāma
• कामः: कर्ता/निर्देश (Nominative of specification)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• बीजम्: seed (mantra-seed)
• बीजम्: विधेय (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बीज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• रमा: Ramā (Lakṣmī)
• रमा: कर्ता/निर्देश (Nominative of specification)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शक्तिः: power (śakti)
• शक्तिः: विधेय (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विनियोगः: application/ritual assignment (viniyoga)
• विनियोगः: कर्ता/निर्देश (Nominative of specification)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विनियोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अखिल-आप्तये: for the attainment of all (goals)
• अखिल-आप्तये: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/purpose-dative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक) + आप्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन; समासः—अखिलस्य आप्तिः (attainment of all)

Speaker

Narada (teaching technical mantra-lakṣaṇa/viniyoga within the Vedāṅga-oriented section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Jagannatha
• Kama
• Rama (Lakshmi)

FAQs

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

It encodes the standard mantra-śāstra framework—devatā, bīja, śakti, and viniyoga—showing that spiritual practice is not random but aligned to a presiding Lord (Jagannātha) and directed toward complete attainment (akhilāpti).

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

By naming Jagannātha as the devatā, the verse centers the practice on the supreme Lord; even when dealing with moha (worldly infatuation), devotion is redirected to God as the governing reality behind all experiences.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights mantra-viniyoga methodology used in ritual and recitation: identifying the devatā (deity), bīja (seed), śakti (energizing principle), and viniyoga (intended application/result) before employing a mantra.