Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 2

Mantraśodhana, Dīkṣā-krama, Guru-Pādukā, Ajapā-Haṃsa, and Ṣaṭcakra-Kuṇḍalinī Sādhana

Devanagari script

चतुष्टयं चतुष्कानां स्यादेवं नृपकोष्ठके । तत्राद्यप्रथमे त्वाद्यं द्वितीयाद्ये द्वितीयकम् ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

catuṣṭayaṃ catuṣkānāṃ syādevaṃ nṛpakoṣṭhake | tatrādyaprathame tvādyaṃ dvitīyādye dvitīyakam || 2 ||

Translation

इस प्रकार नृप-कोष्ठक (राज-तालिका) में चार-चार के समूहों से एक चतुष्टय बनता है; उसमें प्रथम स्थान में प्रथम, और द्वितीय स्थान में द्वितीय का विन्यास किया जाता है।

Word by Word

• चतुष्टयम्: a set of four
• चतुष्टयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुष्टय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• चतुष्कानाम्: of the groups of four
• चतुष्कानाम्: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुष्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• नृप-कोष्ठके: in the king’s grid/cell-diagram
• नृप-कोष्ठके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक) + कोष्ठक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: नृपस्य कोष्ठकः

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• आद्य-प्रथमे: in the first (position)
• आद्य-प्रथमे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आद्य (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रथम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (contextual), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषार्थे: आद्यः प्रथमो यस्मिन् (in the first among the first)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• आद्यम्: the first (item)
• आद्यम्: Karma (कर्म/न्यास्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular); here predicate/assigned item

• द्वितीय-आद्ये: in the second (position)
• द्वितीय-आद्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वितीय (प्रातिपदिक) + आद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष: द्वितीयस्य आद्ये (in the beginning of the second)

• द्वितीयकम्: the second (item)
• द्वितीयकम्: Karma (कर्म/न्यास्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वितीयक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular); assigned element

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It highlights the Purana’s Vedāṅga-oriented discipline: correct ordering and method (krama) are presented as essential for accurate sacred computation and informed dharmic decision-making.

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

Indirectly: it does not teach bhakti practices directly, but supports devotional life by emphasizing precise shastric method—so rites, calendars, and observances connected with Vishnu-bhakti are performed at proper times and in correct sequence.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa / gaṇita-style tabulation: it describes how items are placed in a koṣṭhaka (grid/table) using quaternary grouping, a rule useful for structured reckoning and technical classification.