Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 93

Nityā-paṭala-prakaraṇa

The Exposition of the Nityā-paṭala

Devanagari script

अर्धरात्रे तु साध्यां स्त्रीं स्मरन्मदनवह्निना । दह्यमानां हृतस्वांतां मस्तकस्थापितांजलिम् ॥ ९३ ॥

Transliteration

ardharātre tu sādhyāṃ strīṃ smaranmadanavahninā | dahyamānāṃ hṛtasvāṃtāṃ mastakasthāpitāṃjalim || 93 ||

Translation

À minuit, se souvenant de la femme désirée, il s’embrase au feu de la passion; et elle aussi, comme consumée, le cœur ravi, demeure debout, les mains jointes posées sur la tête.

Word by Word

• अर्धरात्रे: at midnight
• अर्धरात्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्धरात्रि (प्रातिपदिक; अर्ध+रात्रि)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण/विरोध (particle: ‘but/indeed’)

• साध्याम्: to be accomplished/attainable
• साध्याम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण (स्त्रीम् इत्यस्य)

• स्त्रीम्: a woman
• स्त्रीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म (स्मरन् इत्यस्य)

• स्मरन्: remembering
• स्मरन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक

• मदन-वह्निना: by the fire of passion (love-fire)
• मदन-वह्निना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मदनवह्नि (प्रातिपदिक; मदन+वह्नि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण

• दह्यमानाम्: being burned
• दह्यमानाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दह् (धातु)
• Form: शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि कृदन्त (present passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण (स्त्रीम्)

• हृत-स्वान्ताम्: whose heart/mind is stolen
• हृत-स्वान्ताम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृतस्वान्त (प्रातिपदिक; हृत+स्वान्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; बहिर्भूत-विशेषण (स्त्रीम्)

• मस्तक-स्थापित-अञ्जलिम्: (her) joined palms placed on the head
• मस्तक-स्थापित-अञ्जलिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मस्तक+स्थापित+अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक-समूह; मस्तक-स्थापितः अञ्जलिः)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म/विशेष्य (स्त्रीम् इत्यस्य विशेषणरूपेण: ‘with hands joined placed on head’)

Speaker

Narada (instructional narration within a technical/ritual context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Madana (Kama)

FAQs

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

The verse illustrates how intense mental recollection (smaraṇa) and desire can overpower the inner mind, portraying the psychological force of kāma as a ‘fire’ that consumes discernment—serving as a cautionary depiction within technical/ritual instruction.

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

By contrast, it shows that the same power of remembrance that fuels passion can be redirected in bhakti as constant smaraṇa of Vishnu—transforming consuming desire into focused devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects a technical, practice-oriented use of visualization and timed performance (midnight), aligning with applied ritual procedure rather than grammar—closer to kalpa-style operational instruction than purely philosophical teaching.