Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 164

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

Devanagari script

गोमती जाह्नवी रजावी तपनी जातवेदसा । अचिरा वृष्टिदा ज्ञेया ऋततंत्रा ऋतात्मिका ॥ १६४ ॥

Transliteration

gomatī jāhnavī rajāvī tapanī jātavedasā | acirā vṛṣṭidā jñeyā ṛtataṃtrā ṛtātmikā || 164 ||

Translation

Gomatī, Jāhnavī, Rajāvī, Tapanī et Jātavedasā; ainsi qu’Acirā et Vṛṣṭidā : qu’on les reconnaisse comme des courants sacrés. De même Ṛtatantṛā et Ṛtātmikā, gouvernées par Ṛta (l’ordre cosmique) et ayant Ṛta pour nature intime.

Word by Word

• गोमती: Gomatī (name/epithet)
• गोमती: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोमती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नाम (proper epithet)

• जाह्नवी: Jāhnavī (name/epithet)
• जाह्नवी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाह्नवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम

• रजावी: Rajāvī (name/epithet)
• रजावी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजावी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम

• तपनी: Tapanī (name/epithet)
• तपनी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम

• जातवेदसा: Jātavedas (Agni; all-knowing)
• जातवेदसा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जातवेदस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (जातवेदस्-शब्दः), प्रथमा, एकवचन; वैदिक-नाम (Agni/omniscient fire)

• अचिरा: swift, not delayed
• अचिरा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अचिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (quick/not long-delayed)

• वृष्टिदा: giver of rain
• वृष्टिदा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृष्टि + दा (प्रातिपदिक; दा-धातु-निष्पन्न)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वृष्टेः दा = giver of rain)

• ज्ञेया: to be known (as)
• ज्ञेया: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) → ज्ञेय (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधिलिङ्गार्थक-कर्तव्यता/योग्यता; कृदन्तः—तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (to be known)

• ऋततंत्रा: regulated by cosmic order (ṛta)
• ऋततंत्रा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऋत + तंत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (ऋतेन तंत्रा/नियन्त्रिता = governed by ṛta)

• ऋतात्मिका: having ṛta as her essence
• ऋतात्मिका: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऋत + आत्मन्/आत्मिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (whose essence is ṛta)

Speaker

Narada (in instruction within the Vedanga/technical listing context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Gomatī
• Jāhnavī (Gaṅgā)
• Ṛta

FAQs

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

It identifies specific sacred rivers as embodiments of ṛta (cosmic order), implying that contact with such waters supports ritual purity, dharma, and merit (puṇya) when used for snāna (bathing) and related rites.

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

Indirectly: by honoring ṛta through tirtha and sacred waters, a devotee cultivates purity and reverence that traditionally supports steady worship (upāsanā) and disciplined devotion, even though bhakti is not explicitly taught in this single verse.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A technical, catalog-style identification of recognized sacred rivers used in ritual contexts—useful for dharma-śāstra practice and prayoga (application) of rites involving snāna, ācamana, and purification.