Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 81

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

Devanagari script

अद्भिर्ह्रस्वत्रयक्लीबरहितैः पूजयेदिमाः । प्रणवो वज्रनखदंष्ट्रायुधाय महापदात् ॥ ८१ ॥

Transliteration

adbhirhrasvatrayaklībarahitaiḥ pūjayedimāḥ | praṇavo vajranakhadaṃṣṭrāyudhāya mahāpadāt || 81 ||

Translation

ಮೂರು ಹ್ರಸ್ವ ಸ್ವರಗಳೂ ನಪುಂಸಕ ಧ್ವನಿಯೂ ಇಲ್ಲದ ಜಲದಿಂದ ಇವುಗಳನ್ನು ಪೂಜಿಸಬೇಕು. ಮಹಾಪದದಿಂದ ಉದ್ಭವಿಸಿದ ವಜ್ರ, ನಖ, ದಂಷ್ಟ್ರಾ ಆಯುಧಧಾರಿ ದೇವರಿಗೆ ಪ್ರಣವ ‘ಓಂ’ ಅನ್ನು ವಿನಿಯೋಗಿಸಬೇಕು।

Word by Word

• अद्भिः: with water
• अद्भिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; विशेष-रूपम् (अप् → अद्भिः)

• ह्रस्व-त्रय-क्लीब-रहितैः: with (waters) devoid of the three short neuter (syllables)
• ह्रस्व-त्रय-क्लीब-रहितैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ह्रस्व + त्रय + क्लीब + रहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (ह्रस्वत्रयक्लीबेन रहितैः = devoid of three short neuter syllables)

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• इमाः: these (feminine ones)
• इमाः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (pronoun)

• प्रणवः: Praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्रणवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वज्र-नख-दंष्ट्रा-आयुधाय: to/for (the deity) whose weapon is thunderbolt-like nails and fangs
• वज्र-नख-दंष्ट्रा-आयुधाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वज्र + नख + दंष्ट्रा + आयुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (वज्रनखदंष्ट्रा यस्य आयुधम्)

• महापदात्: from the great seat/position
• महापदात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महापद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महान् पदः/पदं)

Speaker

Narada (teaching within a Vedanga/ritual-phonetic framework, traditionally in dialogue with Sanatkumara)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Praṇava (Oṃ)

FAQs

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

It links ritual worship to mantra-phonetic purity: the praṇava (Oṃ) and precise sound-forms are treated as sacred technology, where correct recitation and ritual medium (water) together make the worship efficacious.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as disciplined mantra-upāsanā: devotion is not only feeling but also correct invocation of the Lord through Oṃ and properly formed syllables, offered with reverence (pūjā) using water.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā (Vedic phonetics) is implied: the verse references constraints involving vowels (hrasva-traya) and sound-classifications (klība), emphasizing that correct articulation is a practical requirement for mantra-ritual correctness.