Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 6

Pañca-prakṛti-nirūpaṇa and Mantra-vidhi: Rādhā, Mahālakṣmī, Durgā, Sarasvatī, Sāvitrī; plus Sāvitrī-Pañjara

Devanagari script

या तत्र राधिकादेवी सर्वाद्या समुदाहृता । तस्या अंशावताराणां चरितं मंत्रपूर्वकम् ॥ ६ ॥

Transliteration

yā tatra rādhikādevī sarvādyā samudāhṛtā | tasyā aṃśāvatārāṇāṃ caritaṃ maṃtrapūrvakam || 6 ||

Translation

そこでは女神ラーディカーが、すべての中で最初にして最勝であると宣言される。彼女の部分的な化身たちの聖なる物語は、正しいマントラを先立てて語られるべきである。

Word by Word

• या: she who
• या: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• तत्र: there/in that context
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय-देशवाचक (locative adverb)

• राधिकादेवी: Rādhikā-devī
• राधिकादेवी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; appositional)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राधिका + देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• सर्वाद्या: the foremost of all
• सर्वाद्या: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + आद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); राधिकादेवी इति विशेषण

• समुदाहृता: is proclaimed
• समुदाहृता: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + उद् + आ + हृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त-क्त (Past Passive Participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मणि प्रयोग (is declared)

• तस्याः: of her
• तस्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• अंशावताराणाम्: of the partial incarnations
• अंशावताराणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अंश + अवतार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)

• चरितम्: the account/deeds
• चरितम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरित (प्रातिपदिक; from चर् धातु, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• मंत्रपूर्वकम्: preceded by mantras
• मंत्रपूर्वकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मंत्र + पूर्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); चरितम् इति विशेषण

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Radhika (Radharani)

FAQs

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

It elevates Rādhikā as the supreme, foremost divine principle in this context and stresses that her emanational histories are not mere stories but sacred recitations to be approached with mantra and reverence.

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

It frames devotion as disciplined remembrance: hearing and recounting the deeds of the Goddess (and her aṁśāvatāras) in a mantra-guided way, turning narrative listening (śravaṇa) into a devotional rite.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse points to mantra-application and correct liturgical procedure—skills tied to Śikṣā (proper recitation/phonetics) and the broader ritual discipline of using mantras as the prescribed preface to sacred narration.