Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 2

Gaṇeśa Mantra-vidhi: Mahāgaṇapati Gāyatrī, Vakratuṇḍa Mantra, Nyāsa, Homa, Āvaraṇa-pūjā, and Caturthī Vrata

Devanagari script

अव्ययो विष्णुवनिता शंभुस्त्री मीनकेतनः । स्मृतिर्मांसेंदुमन्वाढ्या सा पुनश्चंद्रशेखरा ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

avyayo viṣṇuvanitā śaṃbhustrī mīnaketanaḥ | smṛtirmāṃseṃdumanvāḍhyā sā punaścaṃdraśekharā || 2 ||

Translation

അവൻ അവ്യയൻ; വിഷ്ണുവിന്റെ പ്രിയയായവൾ; ശംഭുവിന്റെ പത്നി; മീനധ്വജചിഹ്നിതൻ; പവിത്രസ്മൃതിയുടെ മൂർത്തിസ്വരൂപൻ; ദേഹവും ചന്ദ്രനും അലങ്കരിച്ചവൻ; വീണ്ടും ചന്ദ്രശേഖരൻ।

Word by Word

• अव्ययः: the indeclinable (name/epithet)
• अव्ययः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अव्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• विष्णु-वनिता: Vishnu's beloved (Lakshmi)
• विष्णु-वनिता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + वनिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): ‘विष्णोः वनिता’

• शम्भु-स्त्री: Shambhu's wife (Parvati)
• शम्भु-स्त्री: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक) + स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘शम्भोः स्त्री’

• मीन-केतनः: the one with fish as emblem (epithet)
• मीन-केतनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मीन (प्रातिपदिक) + केतन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘मीनः केतनम् यस्य’/‘मीन-चिह्नः’ (epithet)

• स्मृतिः: memory; Smriti
• स्मृतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्मृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मांस-इन्दु-मनु-आढ्या: endowed with ‘māṃsa, indu, manu’ (as components)
• मांस-इन्दु-मनु-आढ्या: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मांस (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्दु (प्रातिपदिक) + मनु (प्रातिपदिक) + आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष/समाहार-विशेषण: ‘मांस-इन्दु-मनु-आढ्या’ = (those syllables/parts) endowed/filled with (आढ्य)

• सा: she/that
• सा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• पुनः: again; further
• पुनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• चन्द्र-शेखरा: she who bears the moon as crest (epithet)
• चन्द्र-शेखरा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + शेखर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: ‘चन्द्रः शेखरः यस्याः सा’ (one who has the moon as crest)

Speaker

Sage Narada (within a technical/vedanga-oriented recitation context; dialogue frame traditionally with Sanatkumara lineage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Lakshmi (as Viṣṇuvanitā)
• Shambhu (Shiva)
• Parvati (as Śaṃbhustrī)
• Chandra (Moon)

FAQs

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

It strings together potent divine epithets—linking imperishability, remembrance (Smṛti), and iconic forms (moon-crested)—as a contemplative or mantra-like catalogue meant to steady the mind on the deity through names.

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

Bhakti here is practiced through nāma-smaraṇa: repeating and reflecting on sacred names (such as Viṣṇu-related and Śiva-related epithets) to cultivate constant remembrance and reverence.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects a technical, recitational use of names and compounds—useful for Vyākaraṇa (understanding compound epithets) and Chandas-style memorization—showing how meaning is packed into mantra-like descriptors.