Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 67

Yakṣiṇī-Mantra-Sādhana Nirūpaṇa

Lakṣmī-avatāra-vidyāḥ: Bālā, Annapūrṇā, Bagalā

Devanagari script

पदानि नव तद्वर्णसंख्येदानीमुदीर्यते । भूमिचंद्रधरैकाक्षिवेदाब्धियुगबाहुभिः ॥ ६७ ॥

Transliteration

padāni nava tadvarṇasaṃkhyedānīmudīryate | bhūmicaṃdradharaikākṣivedābdhiyugabāhubhiḥ || 67 ||

Translation

ಇದರಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂಬತ್ತು ಪದಗಳು (ಶಬ್ದಗಳು) ಇವೆ; ಈಗ ಅದರ ವರ್ಣಸಂಖ್ಯೆಯನ್ನು ಹೇಳಲಾಗುತ್ತದೆ—ಭೂಮಿ, ಚಂದ್ರ, ಧರ, ಒಂದು, ಅಕ್ಷಿ, ವೇದ, ಅಬ್ಧಿ, ಯುಗ, ಬಾಹು—ಎಂಬ ಸಂಖ್ಯಾಸೂಚಕ ಸಂಕೇತಗಳಿಂದ.

Word by Word

• पदानि: words/feet (padas)
• पदानि: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• नव: nine
• नव: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नव (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying पदानि)

• तत्-वर्ण-संख्या: the count of its syllables/letters
• तत्-वर्ण-संख्या: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + संख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (तस्य वर्णानां संख्या)

• इदानीम्: now
• इदानीम्: Kala (काल/Time adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इदानीम् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• उदीर्यते: is stated/uttered
• उदीर्यते: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-√ईर् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• भूमि-चन्द्र-धर-एक-अक्षि-वेद-अब्धि-युग-बाहुभिः: by number-words (bhūta-saṃkhyā) such as earth, moon, mountain, one-eye, Veda, ocean, pair, arms
• भूमि-चन्द्र-धर-एक-अक्षि-वेद-अब्धि-युग-बाहुभिः: Karana (करण/Instrument; means of indicating number)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक) + चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (प्रातिपदिक) + एक (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षि (प्रातिपदिक) + वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + अब्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + युग (प्रातिपदिक) + बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; भूतसंख्या/कटपयादि-प्रकारेण संख्या-निर्देशः (earth=1, moon=1, mountain=7 etc. as conventional number-words)

Speaker

Sanatkumāra (teaching Nārada in a Vedāṅga/Chandas enumeration section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It shows that sacred learning is preserved with precision: even the word-count and syllable-count of mantras/verses are carefully transmitted, supporting accurate recitation and Vedic discipline.

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

Bhakti in the Purāṇic tradition relies on correct śravaṇa and kīrtana; this verse supports that by emphasizing exact textual transmission—so praise, japa, and recitation remain faithful to the revealed form.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Chandas and Śikṣā methodology: it uses bhūta-saṃkhyā (object-number mnemonics like eye=2, Veda=4, ocean=4) to encode and remember metrical/letter counts.