Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 136

Hanumān-mantra-kathana: Mantra-bheda, Nyāsa, Yantra, and Prayoga

Devanagari script

नदीतीरे कानने वा पर्वते विजनेऽथवा । साधयेत्साधक श्रेष्टो भूमिग्रहणपूर्वकम् ॥ १३६ ॥

Transliteration

nadītīre kānane vā parvate vijane'thavā | sādhayetsādhaka śreṣṭo bhūmigrahaṇapūrvakam || 136 ||

Translation

Sur la rive d’une rivière, dans une forêt, sur une montagne ou en tout lieu solitaire, le meilleur des sādhakas doit accomplir la sādhana, après avoir d’abord choisi et préparé le sol (comme site rituel).

Word by Word

• नदी-तीरे: on the riverbank
• नदी-तीरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक) + तीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (नद्याः तीरम्)

• कानने: in a forest
• कानने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कानन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (disjunctive: or)

• पर्वते: on a mountain
• पर्वते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• विजने: in a solitary place
• विजने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (स्थानवाचक)

• अथवा: or alternatively
• अथवा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथवा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (or else)

• साधयेत्: should perform/accomplish
• साधयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: साध् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• साधकः: the practitioner
• साधकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• श्रेष्ठः: excellent/best
• श्रेष्ठः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (साधकः)

• भूमि-ग्रहण-पूर्वकम्: after first selecting the ground
• भूमि-ग्रहण-पूर्वकम्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक) + ग्रहण (प्रातिपदिक; √ग्रह् ल्युट्) + पूर्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (adverb) = भूमिग्रहणं पूर्वं कृत्वा (after first taking/choosing the ground)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in the technical/ritual instruction stream of Book 1.3)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that successful sādhana depends not only on intention but also on the correct choice and consecration of space—quiet, pure locations and properly prepared ground support steadiness, purity, and ritual efficacy.

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

While the verse is procedural, it supports Bhakti by prescribing an environment that minimizes distraction; a secluded, sanctified place helps the devotee concentrate on japa, worship, and remembrance with single-pointed devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects ritual-technical discipline akin to Kalpa (procedural rules): selecting an appropriate site and performing bhūmi-grahaṇa (taking/marking and preparing the ground) as a prerequisite to formal practice.