Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 102

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

Devanagari script

ऊरू तदस्य यद्वैश्य इममूरुद्वये न्यसेत् । न्यसेत्पादद्वये मंत्री पद्भ्यां शूद्रो अजायत ॥ १०२ ॥

Transliteration

ūrū tadasya yadvaiśya imamūrudvaye nyaset | nyasetpādadvaye maṃtrī padbhyāṃ śūdro ajāyata || 102 ||

Translation

ヴァイシャは主の両腿、まさにその二つの腿に安置せよ。マン トリー（大臣）は主の両足に安置せよ。足よりシュードラが生じた。

Word by Word

• ūrū: the two thighs
• ūrū: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ūru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Dual (द्विवचन)

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/प्रथमा or 2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun

• asya: of him/of this
• asya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam/tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• yat: which
• yat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/प्रथमा or 2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun

• vaiśyaḥ: the Vaiśya
• vaiśyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaiśya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• imam: this
• imam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ūru-dvaye: in the pair of thighs
• ūru-dvaye: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/सप्तमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ūru (प्रातिपदिक) + dvaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (ūruṇām dvaye)

• nyaset: should place
• nyaset: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√as (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/optative), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada

• nyaset: should place
• nyaset: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√as (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/optative), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada

• pāda-dvaye: in the pair of feet
• pāda-dvaye: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/सप्तमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāda (प्रातिपदिक) + dvaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (pādayoḥ dvaye)

• maṃtrī: the mantra-practitioner
• maṃtrī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maṃtrin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• padbhyām: with (his) two feet
• padbhyām: Karana (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Dual (द्विवचन)

• śūdraḥ: the Śūdra
• śūdraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūdra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• ajāyata: was born/arose
• ajāyata: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jan (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ (लुङ्/aorist), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Ātmanepada

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in an explanatory sequence on varna-origins and social functions)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It presents the Purusha-body symbolism: society’s functions are mapped onto the Cosmic Person, teaching that social roles are meant to operate as coordinated limbs of dharma rather than as grounds for spiritual superiority.

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

By locating all human roles within the Divine body, it implies that one’s station becomes sanctified when performed as service to the Lord—turning duty (svadharma) into an offering, a core orientation of bhakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects a dharma-śāstra style application of Vedic mantra tradition (Purusha Sukta-type mapping) used in ritual and social instruction—showing how textual/ritual interpretation supports governance and societal organization.