Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 85

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

Devanagari script

शंखचक्रगदाखङ्गपाशांकुशशरान्धनुः । लोकेश्वरांस्ततो बाह्ये तेषामस्त्राण्यनंतरम् ॥ ८५ ॥

Transliteration

śaṃkhacakragadākhaṅgapāśāṃkuśaśarāndhanuḥ | lokeśvarāṃstato bāhye teṣāmastrāṇyanaṃtaram || 85 ||

Translation

Ensuite, à l’extérieur (de cet agencement intérieur), qu’on place les Lokapāla, gardiens du monde; et aussitôt après, qu’on dispose leurs armes : conque, disque, massue, épée, lasso, aiguillon, flèches et arc.

Word by Word

• शंख: conch
• शंख: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; compound-member

• चक्र: discus
• चक्र: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; compound-member

• गदा: mace
• गदा: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; compound-member

• खङ्ग: sword
• खङ्ग: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; compound-member

• पाश: noose
• पाश: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; compound-member

• अंकुश: goad
• अंकुश: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अंकुश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; compound-member

• शर: arrow
• शर: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; compound-member

• धनुः: bow
• धनुः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; list-item

• लोकेश्वरान्: the lords of the worlds
• लोकेश्वरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'of the world' + 'lords'

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/अनन्तर (then/thereafter)

• बाह्ये: in the outer (area)
• बाह्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बाह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; 'in the outer (place)' (elliptic adhikaraṇa)

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; pronoun

• अस्त्राणि: missiles/weapons
• अस्त्राणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; here as objects to be placed/worshipped (contextual)

• अनन्तरम्: immediately after
• अनन्तरम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभूत-नपुंसक एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) 'immediately/afterwards'

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Lokapālas (Lokeśvarāḥ)
• Śaṅkha
• Cakra
• Gadā
• Khaṅga
• Pāśa
• Aṅkuśa
• Śara
• Dhanuḥ

FAQs

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

It prescribes a protective sacred layout: after establishing the primary divine focus, the worshipper places the world-guardians and then their weapons, symbolically sealing the ritual space with cosmic order and divine protection.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as disciplined upāsanā—devotion enacted through correct arrangement (krama) and reverent visualization of divine powers (astras) that safeguard the devotee and the worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects kalpa-style procedural knowledge: the ordered sequencing of placements (bāhye, anantaram) used in ritual design/mandala construction and protective nyāsa conventions.