Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 163

Mahāviṣṇu-Mantras: Aṣṭākṣarī, Sudarśana-Astra, Nyāsa Systems, Āvaraṇa-Pūjā, and Prayogas

Devanagari script

वर्म चास्त्रं समाख्यातं नेत्रं स्यात्तदनंतरम् । वदेत्रिभुवनं पश्चाच्चर सर्वजनेति च ॥ १६३ ॥

Transliteration

varma cāstraṃ samākhyātaṃ netraṃ syāttadanaṃtaram | vadetribhuvanaṃ paścāccara sarvajaneti ca || 163 ||

Translation

‘വർമ’യെ അസ്ത്രമായി പ്രഖ്യാപിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു; അതിന് പിന്നാലെ ‘നേത്ര’ വരണം. തുടർന്ന് ‘ത്രിഭുവന’ എന്നു ചൊല്ലി, പിന്നെ ‘ചര’ എന്നും ‘സർവജന’ എന്നും ഉച്ചരിക്കണം॥

Word by Word

• वर्म: armor; (the word) ‘varma’
• वर्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्मन्/वर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• अस्त्रम्: weapon; (the word) ‘astra’
• अस्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• समाख्यातम्: is declared/said
• समाख्यातम्: Kriya (क्रिया/भाव)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + आ + ख्या (धातु) → समाख्यात (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying)

• नेत्रम्: eye; (the word) ‘netra’
• नेत्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तत्-अनन्तरम्: immediately after that
• तत्-अनन्तरम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अनन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (adverbial): ‘तत्-पछि/तदनन्तरम्’

• वदेत्: should say
• वदेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• त्रि-भुवनम्: the three worlds; (the word) ‘tribhuvana’
• त्रि-भुवनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + भुवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; द्विगुसमास (numeral compound)

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (afterwards)

• चर: move; go; roam
• चर: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सर्व-जन-इति: (the word) ‘sarvajana’ (thus)
• सर्व-जन-इति: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + जन (प्रातिपदिक) + इति (अव्यय)
• Form: ‘इति’ इत्यनेन मन्त्रपद-निर्देशः (quotative particle marking the mantra-word); सर्वजन = षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-भावे समासः (all-people)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within Vedanga/ritual-technical teaching)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

FAQs

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

It lays out a precise mantra-sequence used for protection and ritual completeness—invoking armour (varma), weapon-power (astra), and the divine “eye” (netra), then expanding the scope to the three worlds and all beings.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through disciplined mantra-recitation: devotion is not only emotion but also correct sacred procedure (krama), where the practitioner aligns speech and intention with protective divine powers.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual-technical sequencing (mantra-krama/nyāsa style usage) and precise liturgical diction—skills associated with Vedanga-based competence in correct recitation and application of mantra in rites.