Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 135

Mahāviṣṇu-Mantras: Aṣṭākṣarī, Sudarśana-Astra, Nyāsa Systems, Āvaraṇa-Pūjā, and Prayogas

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मा मुनिः स्याद्गायत्री छन्दो वाराहसंज्ञकः । देवश्चंद्रेंद्वब्धिनेत्रैः सवेणांगक्रिया मता ॥ १३५ ॥

Transliteration

brahmā muniḥ syādgāyatrī chando vārāhasaṃjñakaḥ | devaścaṃdreṃdvabdhinetraiḥ saveṇāṃgakriyā matā || 135 ||

Translation

Ṛṣi-nya adalah Brahmā; metrenya Gāyatrī; ia dikenal dengan nama “Vārāha”. Dewa pemimpin ditentukan melalui sandi hitungan “bulan–Indra–bulan–samudra–mata”, dan ritusnya dipandang dilakukan beserta aṅga-aṅga pendukungnya.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st/Nom.), एकवचन (sg.)

• मुनिः: sage (ṛṣi)
• मुनिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st/Nom.), एकवचन (sg.)

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg.), परस्मैपदम्

• गायत्री: Gāyatrī
• गायत्री: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गायत्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st/Nom.), एकवचन (sg.)

• छन्दः: meter (chandas)
• छन्दः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छन्दस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st/Nom.), एकवचन (sg.)

• वाराह-संज्ञकः: named ‘Vārāha’
• वाराह-संज्ञकः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाराह (प्रातिपदिक) + संज्ञक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st/Nom.), एकवचन (sg.)

• देवः: deity (presiding deity)
• देवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st/Nom.), एकवचन (sg.)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• चन्द्र-इन्दु-अब्धि-नेत्रैः: with (the) eyes (as) moon, orb, and ocean (i.e., three eyes)
• चन्द्र-इन्दु-अब्धि-नेत्रैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्दु (प्रातिपदिक) + अब्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), तृतीया विभक्ति (3rd/Instr.), बहुवचन (pl.); द्वन्द्वसमासः—‘चन्द्र-इन्दु-अब्धि’ इति नेत्राणि (eyes) यस्य/यैः

• स-वेन-अङ्ग-क्रिया: the ancillary rite with ‘vena’ (syllable/element)
• स-वेन-अङ्ग-क्रिया: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स (अव्यय ‘सहित’) + वेन (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st/Nom.), एकवचन (sg.); ‘सहित’ अर्थे स-; अङ्गक्रिया = न्यासादि-अङ्गकर्म

• मता: is considered
• मता: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मत (कृदन्त; √मन्)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) ‘मत’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st/Nom.), एकवचन (sg.); कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘is considered’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue tradition with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Varaha

FAQs

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

It codifies how a Vedic formula is to be approached—by knowing its seer (ṛṣi), metre (chandas), name/tradition (saṁjñā), deity (devatā), and the proper ancillary procedure (aṅga-kriyā), ensuring disciplined and effective recitation.

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

By insisting on correct identification of deity and method, it frames devotion as informed worship—bhakti expressed through precise mantra-knowledge and properly structured ritual practice rather than mere sentiment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Chandas (metre-identification) and ritual-application principles (ṛṣi–chandas–devatā and aṅga-kriyā), presented in a technical, mnemonic style typical of Vedanga-oriented instruction.