Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 141

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

Devanagari script

त्रिधामूलेन मेधावी व्यापकं हि समाचरेत् । पूर्वोक्तां देवातां ध्यायेत्साकारां गुणसंयुताम् ॥ १४१ ॥

Transliteration

tridhāmūlena medhāvī vyāpakaṃ hi samācaret | pūrvoktāṃ devātāṃ dhyāyetsākārāṃ guṇasaṃyutām || 141 ||

Translation

S’appuyant sur le triple fondement, le pratiquant avisé doit accomplir la pratique totale et pénétrante ; et il doit méditer la divinité décrite plus haut—dotée de forme (sākāra) et riche de qualités divines.

Word by Word

• tri-dhā-mūlena: by/with the threefold root (mantra-base)
• tri-dhā-mūlena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri + dhā + mūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष (mūla qualified by tri-dhā ‘threefold’)

• medhāvī: the intelligent one
• medhāvī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: medhāvin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• vyāpakaṃ: the all-pervading (practice/nyāsa)
• vyāpakaṃ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyāpaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधान/हेतु-बोधक (emphatic/causal)

• samācaret: should perform
• samācaret: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-√car (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• pūrva-uktāṃ: previously stated
• pūrva-uktāṃ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrva + ukta (प्रातिपदिक; ukta = √vac + kta)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष (previously-said)

• devatāṃ: the deity
• devatāṃ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• dhyāyet: should meditate upon
• dhyāyet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhyai (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• sa-ākārāṃ: with form (iconic)
• sa-ākārāṃ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa + ākāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष (with form)

• guṇa-saṃyutām: endowed with qualities
• guṇa-saṃyutām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: guṇa + saṃyuta (प्रातिपदिक; saṃyuta = sam-√yuj + kta)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष (endowed with qualities)

Speaker

Narada (teaching, in a dialogue context associated with Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Devatā (previously described deity)

FAQs

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

It instructs that effective sādhana should rest on a structured ‘threefold’ basis and culminate in focused upāsanā—meditating on the deity as both personal (with form) and intrinsically auspicious (endowed with guṇas).

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

By emphasizing meditation on a saguṇa, sākāra devatā, the verse supports bhakti-upāsanā where devotion is stabilized through a concrete form and contemplation of divine attributes.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects procedural discipline typical of Vedanga-style instruction: correct method (samācaraṇa) and structured practice, implying the importance of mantra/upāsanā protocol rather than unregulated meditation.