Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 98

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

Devanagari script

भीषयद्वितयं हृत्स्यात् त्रासयद्वितयं शिरः । शिखा प्रमर्द्दयद्वंद्वं वर्म प्रध्वंसयद्वयम् ॥ ९८ ॥

Transliteration

bhīṣayadvitayaṃ hṛtsyāt trāsayadvitayaṃ śiraḥ | śikhā pramarddayadvaṃdvaṃ varma pradhvaṃsayadvayam || 98 ||

Translation

‘ഭീഷയത്’ എന്ന യുഗ്മം ഹൃദയത്തിൽ ന്യസിക്കണം; ‘ത്രാസയത്’ എന്ന യുഗ്മം ശിരസ്സിൽ. ‘ശിഖാ-പ്രമർദ്യ’ എന്ന ദ്വന്ദ്വം ശിഖയിൽ, കൂടാതെ ‘വർമ-പ്രധ്വംസയ’ എന്ന യുഗ്മവും ന്യസിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• bhīṣayat: frightening
• bhīṣayat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √bhīṣ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ/त्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘भयङ्करं कुर्वत्’

• vitayam: a pair (twofold)
• vitayam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vitaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अर्थे ‘द्वयम्/युगलम्’

• hṛt: in the heart
• hṛt: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hṛd (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; रूपम्—हृत्

• syāt: should be
• syāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; ‘should be/should occur’

• trāsayat: terrifying
• trāsayat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √tras (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ/त्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘त्रासं जनयत्’

• vitayam: a pair (twofold)
• vitayam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vitaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘द्वयम्’

• śiraḥ: in the head
• śiraḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• śikhā: (at) the topknot/crest
• śikhā: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śikhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• pramarddayat: crushing
• pramarddayat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-√mṛd (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ/त्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘प्रमर्दनं कुर्वत्’

• dvaṃdvam: the pair
• dvaṃdvam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvaṃdva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अर्थे ‘युगलम्/द्वयम्’

• varma: (as) armor/protection
• varma: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• pradhvaṃsayat: destroying
• pradhvaṃsayat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-√dhvaṃs (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ/त्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘प्रध्वंसनं कुर्वत्’

• dvayam: the twofold (pair)
• dvayam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada the technical rules of Vedanga-Śikṣā)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that mantra-power depends on precise Vedic recitation; correct placement of śikṣā-instructions (bodily loci and recitational marks) preserves the intended efficacy and protects the rite from error.

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

Even in devotion, the Purana upholds disciplined practice: reverence for mantra and accurate chanting are treated as forms of bhakti expressed through careful, tradition-faithful worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga-Śikṣā: a technical rule-set assigning specific named recitation marks/operations (dvaya/dvandva) to bodily locations like heart, head, and śikhā, guiding correct performance in Vedic chanting and ritual.