Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 133

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

Devanagari script

ऊर्वोर्मलयमेरुभ्यां शोभमानां सरिद्वराम् । सुजानुजहुकुशिकां वैश्वदेवाख्यसंज्ञिकाम् ॥ १३३ ॥

Transliteration

ūrvormalayamerubhyāṃ śobhamānāṃ saridvarām | sujānujahukuśikāṃ vaiśvadevākhyasaṃjñikām || 133 ||

Translation

Il décrivit le fleuve excellent qui resplendit entre Urva et les monts Malaya et Meru; ce fleuve est aussi nommé Sujānu, Jahukūśikā, et porte l’appellation « Vaiśvadevā ».

Word by Word

• ऊर्वोः: of the two thighs
• ऊर्वोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऊरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (प्रयोगे भेदः), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), द्विवचन/एकवचन-सम्भाव्य; अत्र ‘ऊर्वोः’ = षष्ठी-द्विवचन (of the two thighs) अधिकसम्भाव्य

• मलय-मेरुभ्याम्: by/with Malaya and Meru
• मलय-मेरुभ्याम्: Karana (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मलय (प्रातिपदिक) + मेरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/सह), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः — ‘मलयश्च मेरुश्च’

• शोभमानाम्: shining, splendid
• शोभमानाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √शुभ् (धातु) → शोभमान (कृदन्त; शानच्/लट्-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; वर्तमानकृदन्त (शोभमान = ‘shining/being splendid’), विशेषण-प्रयोगः

• सरित्-वराम्: the excellent river
• सरित्-वराम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरित् (प्रातिपदिक) + वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः — ‘वरा सरित्’ (श्रेष्ठा नदी)

• सु-जानु-जहु-कुशिकाम्: with beautiful knees; (connected with) Jahu and Kuśika
• सु-जानु-जहु-कुशिकाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + जानु (प्रातिपदिक) + जहु (प्रातिपदिक) + कुशिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः (तत्पुरुष) — ‘सुजानु’ (सु + जानु = सुन्दर-जानु), तथा ‘जहु-कुशिका’ नाम-सम्बन्धः

• वैश्वदेव-आख्य-संज्ञिकाम्: having the designation called ‘Vaiśvadeva’
• वैश्वदेव-आख्य-संज्ञिकाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैश्वदेव (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्य (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; आ√ख्या धातु) + संज्ञिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः (तत्पुरुष) — ‘वैश्वदेव-आख्या संज्ञा यस्याः सा’ (संज्ञिक = ‘having the designation’)

Speaker

Narada (continuing a catalog-style description within the dialogue tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Malaya
• Meru
• Vaiśvadevā
• Sujānu
• Jahukūśikā

FAQs

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

It preserves a tirtha-oriented mapping of sacred geography: a single revered river is identified through multiple traditional names, emphasizing its sanctity and the merit (puṇya) associated with remembering or visiting such waters.

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

While not directly teaching bhakti practices, it supports devotional culture by locating sacred rivers (tirthas) that are commonly approached with worship, vows, and remembrance of the Divine through pilgrimage and purification rites.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse reflects a technical, list-based (anukramaṇī-like) preservation of names and locations—useful for ritual/pilgrimage orientation and for maintaining correct traditional nomenclature, a concern aligned with Vedanga-style precision.