Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 120

Rādhā-sambaddha-mantra-vyākhyā

Rādhā-Related Mantras Explained

Devanagari script

वज्रेश्वर्याद्यमाद्यं स्याद्वियदग्नियुतं ततः । अंबु स्यान्मरुता युक्तं गोत्रा क्ष्मासंयुता ततः ॥ १२० ॥

Transliteration

vajreśvaryādyamādyaṃ syādviyadagniyutaṃ tataḥ | aṃbu syānmarutā yuktaṃ gotrā kṣmāsaṃyutā tataḥ || 120 ||

Translation

D’abord vient la syllabe-graine (bīja) commençant par « Vajreśvarī » ; ensuite, qu’on la joigne à ‘ciel/éther’ et à ‘feu’. Puis qu’on la joigne à ‘eau’ avec ‘vent’ ; après quoi on la relie au gotra, et enfin on la conjoigne de nouveau à ‘terre’.

Word by Word

• vajra-īśvarī-ādyam: beginning with Vajreśvarī
• vajra-īśvarī-ādyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vajra (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvarī (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; समासः तत्पुरुषः (‘beginning with Vajreśvarī’)

• ādyam: the first
• ādyam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ādya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• syāt: should be
• syāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (अस्, धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/optative), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; परस्मैपद

• viyat-agni-yutam: joined with ether and fire
• viyat-agni-yutam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viyat (प्रातिपदिक) + agni (प्रातिपदिक) + √yuj (युज्, धातु) → yuta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; समासः द्वन्द्वः (viyat + agni) + क्त-प्रत्यय ‘yuta’ = ‘joined with’; here used predicatively

• tataḥ: then, thereafter
• tataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; क्रम/अनन्तरबोधक (then/thereafter)

• ambu: water
• ambu: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ambu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• syāt: should be
• syāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (अस्, धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/optative), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; परस्मैपद

• marutā: with wind/air
• marutā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: marut (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• yuktam: joined
• yuktam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √yuj (युज्, धातु) → yukta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘joined/connected’

• gotrā: gotra (clan/lineage)
• gotrā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gotra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (Vedic/variant form; classical nom/acc pl would be gotrāṇi)

• kṣmā-saṃyutā: joined with earth
• kṣmā-saṃyutā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṣmā (प्रातिपदिक) + sam-√yuj (युज्, धातु) → saṃyuta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; समासः तत्पुरुषः (‘joined with earth’); क्त-प्रत्यय

• tataḥ: then, thereafter
• tataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; क्रम/अनन्तरबोधक (then/thereafter)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada on technical/ritual formulation)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Vajreśvarī

FAQs

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

It outlines a technical method of mantra-formation/nyāsa where a seed beginning with “Vajreśvarī” is ritually integrated with the pañca-bhūtas and the practitioner’s gotra, indicating sanctification of the mantra through cosmic and personal identifiers.

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

Though primarily technical, it supports bhakti-practice by prescribing a disciplined ritual framework for mantra use—showing that devotion in the Narada Purana is often paired with precise mantra-vidhi to steady mind and worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā and mantra-krama (phonetic/recitational sequencing) are implied, along with ritual identifiers like gotra—practical details used in formal recitation and application (nyāsa/vidhi).