Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 14

Dīkṣā, Mantra-Types, Mantra-Doṣas, and Qualifications of Ācārya–Śiṣya

Devanagari script

छिन्नो रुद्धः शक्तिहीनस्ततश्चैव पराङ्मुखः । कर्महीनो नेत्रहीनः कीलितः स्तंभितस्तथा ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

chinno ruddhaḥ śaktihīnastataścaiva parāṅmukhaḥ | karmahīno netrahīnaḥ kīlitaḥ staṃbhitastathā || 14 ||

Translation

അവൻ ഛിന്നനായി, തടയപ്പെട്ടവനായി, ശക്തിഹീനനായി, പിന്നെ പരാങ്മുഖനാകുന്നു. കർമശക്തിയും ദൃഷ്ടിയും നഷ്ടപ്പെട്ട്, കീളിതനായി (ബന്ധിതനായി) അതുപോലെ സ്തംഭിതനായി (നിശ്ചലനായി) തീരുന്നു।

Word by Word

• chinnaḥ: cut/broken
• chinnaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: chinna (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √chid छिद् + क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• ruddhaḥ: blocked/obstructed
• ruddhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ruddha (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √rudh रुध् + क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• śaktihīnaḥ: powerless
• śaktihīnaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śakti + hīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; तत्पुरुष: शक्त्या हीनः = ‘devoid of power’

• tataḥ: then/thereafter
• tataḥ: Kāla (काल/temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय) ‘then/thereafter’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (अवधारण-निपात)

• parāṅmukhaḥ: turned away/averse
• parāṅmukhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parāṅ + mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; बहुव्रीहि: पराङ् मुखं यस्य सः = ‘one whose face is turned away’

• karmahīnaḥ: without efficacy/rite
• karmahīnaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: karma + hīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; तत्पुरुष: कर्मणा हीनः = ‘devoid of action/rite’

• netrahīnaḥ: eyeless
• netrahīnaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: netra + hīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; तत्पुरुष: नेत्रेण हीनः = ‘without eyes’

• kīlitaḥ: pinned/nailed
• kīlitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kīlita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √kīl/√kīlaya? कील्/कीलय् + क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; ‘nailed/pinned down’

• staṃbhitaḥ: immobilized
• staṃbhitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: staṃbhita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √stambh स्तम्भ् + क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; ‘paralyzed/immobilized’

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) ‘thus/likewise’

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical/ritual-mantra context within Vedanga-oriented discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

FAQs

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

The verse describes a state of complete restraint—cut off, blocked, weakened, and immobilized—indicating the traditional Puranic idea that adverse forces (inner or outer) can be checked through dharmic, mantra-guided discipline.

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

While technical in tone, it supports Bhakti indirectly: devotion is protected when distractions and hostile tendencies are restrained, allowing the mind to remain oriented toward the Lord rather than turning away (parāṅmukha).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects applied mantra-prayoga language common to Vedanga-adjacent ritual practice—describing effects like stambhana (immobilization) and nirodha (restraint), which are framed as outcomes of disciplined sacred procedure.