Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 84

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

लक्ष्मी चतुर्थी कथिता ततो नातिभवेपदम् । मेधा स्यात्पञ्चमी प्रोक्ता कलाभूयो भवस्व माम् ॥ ८४ ॥

Transliteration

lakṣmī caturthī kathitā tato nātibhavepadam | medhā syātpañcamī proktā kalābhūyo bhavasva mām || 84 ||

Translation

Ainsi la Lakṣmī-Caturthī a-t-elle été expliquée ; grâce à elle, on ne tombe pas dans l’infortune. La Medhā-Pañcamī est également proclamée : puisses-Tu, pour moi, accorder une intelligence et un accomplissement encore plus grands.

Word by Word

• लक्ष्मी: Lakṣmī (name)
• लक्ष्मी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• चतुर्थी: fourth
• चतुर्थी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्रमवाचक

• कथिता: is stated
• कथिता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु) → कथित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘is said’

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रम/हेतुवाचक अव्यय (thereafter/from that)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक निपात (negation)

• अति-भवे-पदम्: the term/word ‘atibhava’
• अति-भवे-पदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अति (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + भव (प्रातिपदिक) + पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासार्थः ‘अतिभवस्य पदम्’/‘अतिभवपदम्’ (the word/term ‘atibhava’)

• मेधा: Medhā (name; intelligence)
• मेधा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेधा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• स्यात्: may be
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• पञ्चमी: fifth
• पञ्चमी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्रमवाचक

• प्रोक्ता: is declared
• प्रोक्ता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु) → प्रोक्त (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कला: kalā
• कला: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भूयः: again/further
• भूयः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भूयस् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुनरर्थक अव्यय (again/further)

• भवस्व: become / be
• भवस्व: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Speaker

Narada (within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Lakṣmī-Caturthī; Medhā-Pañcamī

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Lakshmi

FAQs

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

The verse links tithi-based vratas with tangible dharmic outcomes: Lakṣmī-Caturthī protects one from misfortune, while Medhā-Pañcamī is prescribed to cultivate medhā (learning and mental clarity), indicating that disciplined observance refines both fortune and intellect.

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

By framing vratas as offerings done with intent (“for my sake”), the verse points to bhakti expressed through disciplined practice—devotion is not only emotion but also regulated worship aligned with sacred time (tithi).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights calendrical and ritual precision—tithi-based observances (Caturthī, Pañcamī) tied to specific results—reflecting Vedāṅga concerns such as Jyotiṣa (timing) and Kalpa (ritual procedure).