Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 43

Yakṣiṇī-Mantra-Sādhana Nirūpaṇa

Lakṣmī-avatāra-vidyāḥ: Bālā, Annapūrṇā, Bagalā

Devanagari script

मध्यमादौ नभोहंसौ मध्यमांते तु पावकम् । आदावंते च तार्तूयक्रमात्स्वं धूम्रकेतनम् ॥ ४३ ॥

Transliteration

madhyamādau nabhohaṃsau madhyamāṃte tu pāvakam | ādāvaṃte ca tārtūyakramātsvaṃ dhūmraketanam || 43 ||

Translation

Pada awal bagian tengah terdapat ‘nabhō-haṃsa’ (angsa langit), dan pada akhir bagian tengah ada ‘pāvaka’ (api suci). Pada awal dan akhir pula, menurut urutan tārtūya, hendaknya menempatkan atau menyadari prinsip diri ‘dhūmraketu’ (berpanji asap).

Word by Word

• मध्यम-आदौ: at the beginning of the middle
• मध्यम-आदौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मध्यम (प्रातिपदिक) + आदौ (अव्यय/सप्तमी-एकवचन from आदि-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; अर्थे: ‘मध्यमे आदौ’ (in the beginning of the middle)

• नभः-हंसौ: the two sky-swans
• नभः-हंसौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नभस् (प्रातिपदिक) + हंस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष sense: ‘नभो-हंस’ = sky-swan); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन

• मध्यम-अन्ते: at the end of the middle
• मध्यम-अन्ते: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मध्यम (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत्; अर्थे: ‘मध्यमे अन्ते’ (at the end of the middle)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थक (but/indeed)

• पावकम्: fire
• पावकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पावक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• आदौ: in the beginning
• आदौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययीभूतम्; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (in the beginning)

• अन्ते: at the end
• अन्ते: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (at the end)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (and)

• तार्तूय-क्रमात्: according to the tārtūya order
• तार्तूय-क्रमात्: Hetu/Prakāra (हेतु/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तार्तूय (प्रातिपदिक) + क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; ‘तार्तूयस्य क्रमः’ (sequence/order of tārtūya); तृतीया/पञ्चमी-एकवचन ‘क्रमात्’ (ablative/instrumental sense: according to/in due order)

• स्वम्: one’s own
• स्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying the following noun)

• धूम्र-केतनम्: the smoke-bannered one (Agni)
• धूम्र-केतनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धूम्र (प्रातिपदिक) + केतन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (धूम्रं केतनं यस्य/धूम्र-केतनम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Agni (Pavaka)
• Dhūmraketu

FAQs

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

It encodes a disciplined way of placing or recognizing specific sacred principles (symbolized as ‘sky-swan’, Agni, and Dhūmraketu) within a structured sequence, emphasizing that mantra-knowledge is not random but ordered and precise.

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

Though technical, it supports bhakti by insisting on correct sacred procedure: devotion in the Narada Purana is strengthened when worship and recitation follow proper Vedic order, making practice steady and effective.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā/Vedāṅga-style sequencing (krama) and placement rules for recitation or ritual mapping—distinguishing beginnings, middles, and endings, and assigning specific identifiers to each position.