Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 43

Devanagari script

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

Transliteration

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

Translation

中段の初めには「虚空の白鳥」（nābho-haṃsa）があり、中段の終わりには「火」（pāvaka）がある。さらに始めと終わりには、tārtūya の次第に従い、自らの「煙の旗印」（dhūmraketu）の原理を安置し、また観知すべきである。

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.