Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 169

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

Devanagari script

प्रसूनावलिसौरभ्यमाद्यन्मधुकरारवम् । दिव्यवातोञ्चलत्कंजपरागोद्धूलितांबरम् ॥ १६९ ॥

Transliteration

prasūnāvalisaurabhyamādyanmadhukarāravam | divyavātoñcalatkaṃjaparāgoddhūlitāṃbaram || 169 ||

Translation

അത് പുഷ്പനിരകളുടെ സൗരഭ്യത്തിൽ സുഗന്ധിതം, ആദ്യമധു പാനം ചെയ്യുന്ന തേൻചീറ്റകളുടെ മുഴക്കത്തിൽ മുഖരം, ദിവ്യവാതം ഇളക്കുന്ന താമരകളുടെ പരാഗം പതിഞ്ഞ് വസ്ത്രങ്ങൾ ധൂളിമയമാകുന്നു।

Word by Word

• प्रसून-आवलि-सौरभ्यम्: fragrant with rows of flowers
• प्रसून-आवलि-सौरभ्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसून (प्रातिपदिक) + आवलि (प्रातिपदिक) + सौरभ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुषः: ‘प्रसूनानाम् आवलिः’ (garland/row of flowers) तस्य सौरभ्यम् = fragrance of rows of flowers

• आद्यत्-मधुकर-आरवम्: resounding with the hum of bees
• आद्यत्-मधुकर-आरवम्: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आद्यत् (कृदन्त, √अद्/√आद्?; here sense ‘resounding’) + मधुकर (प्रातिपदिक) + आरव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुषः: ‘मधुकराणाम् आरवः’ = humming of bees; आद्यत् = sounding/resounding (contextual)

• दिव्य-वात-उञ्चलत्-कञ्ज-पराग-उद्धूलित-अम्बरम्: with garments dusted by lotus pollen stirred by divine breeze
• दिव्य-वात-उञ्चलत्-कञ्ज-पराग-उद्धूलित-अम्बरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वात (प्रातिपदिक) + उञ्चलत् (कृदन्त, √उञ्चल्) + कञ्ज (प्रातिपदिक) + पराग (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्धूलित (कृदन्त, √धूल्/√ध्वंस् with उद्) + अम्बर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (Singular); बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः: ‘दिव्यवातेन उञ्चलत्कञ्जपरागैः उद्धूलितम् अम्बरम् यस्य’ = whose garments are dusted by lotus-pollen stirred by divine breeze

Speaker

Narada (descriptive narration within the dialogue tradition with Sanatkumara)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Bees (madhukara)
• Lotus (kañja)

FAQs

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

It evokes a sanctified, sattvic atmosphere—fragrance, gentle sound, and lotus-pollen purity—supporting dhyāna (contemplation) and devotional absorption by depicting the qualities of an auspicious sacred space.

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

By painting a vivid devotional environment (flowers, bees, lotuses, divine breeze), it guides the mind toward single-pointed remembrance—bhakti grows when the senses are oriented to pure, temple-like imagery rather than distraction.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Primarily Śikṣā (phonetics/recitation) and chandas-style cadence: the verse is crafted for smooth oral delivery and visualization, showing how disciplined sound and imagery aid memorization and meditative focus.