Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 54

Mantra-Māhātmya and Sādhana of Kārtavīryārjuna

Nyāsa, Yantra, Homa, and Dīpa-Vrata

Devanagari script

दशास्येति च षड्भिः स्यात्पदैर्ङेतैः षडंगकम् । सिंच्यमानं युवतिभिः क्रीडंतं नर्मदाजले ॥ ५४ ॥

Transliteration

daśāsyeti ca ṣaḍbhiḥ syātpadairṅetaiḥ ṣaḍaṃgakam | siṃcyamānaṃ yuvatibhiḥ krīḍaṃtaṃ narmadājale || 54 ||

Translation

“ദശാസ്യ-” എന്ന് ആരംഭിക്കുന്ന പ്രയോഗം അറിയപ്പെട്ട ആറു പദങ്ങളാൽ ഘടിതമായ ഷഡംഗകമെന്നു ഗ്രഹിക്കണം. അതിൽ (ദേവൻ) നർമദാ ജലത്തിൽ ക്രീഡിക്കുമ്പോൾ യുവതികൾ കളിയായി വെള്ളം തളിച്ച് സിഞ്ചിക്കുന്നതായി ചിത്രിതമാകുന്നു.

Word by Word

• दशास्य: Daśāsya (ten-faced; Rāvaṇa)
• दशास्य: Viśeṣya/Name (विशेष्य/नाम)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दश + आस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (context-dependent), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (दश आस्यानि यस्य/दशास्यः)

• इति: thus/‘…’
• इति: Vacana-paryavasāna (वचनपर्यवसान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इत्यादि-उद्धरण/समाप्तिबोधक (quotative particle)

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

• षड्भिः: with six
• षड्भिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षट् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुं, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक (numeral)

• स्यात्: should be/is to be
• स्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पदैः: by/with words (padas)
• पदैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• एतैः: with these
• एतैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुं, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम-विशेषण (pronominal adjective)

• षडङ्गकम्: the six-limbed (mantra/nyāsa)
• षडङ्गकम्: Karma/Predicate (कर्म/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट् + अङ्गक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (षड् अङ्गानि यस्य)

• सिञ्च्यमानम्: being sprinkled
• सिञ्च्यमानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिच् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकर्मणि कृदन्त (present passive participle/शानच्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘being sprinkled’

• युवतिभिः: by young women
• युवतिभिः: Karaṇa/Agent-in-passive (करण/कर्तृ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युवति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• क्रीडन्तम्: playing
• क्रीडन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रीड् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकर्तरि कृदन्त (present active participle/शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘playing’

• नर्मदा-जले: in the waters of the Narmadā
• नर्मदा-जले: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर्मदा + जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (नर्मदायाः जलम्)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue instruction to Narada on technical/Vedanga-style enumeration)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narmada

FAQs

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

It links technical Vedic classification (a ṣaḍaṅga, six-part unit) with sacred imagery, showing that precise mantra-structure and devotional visualization can coexist in the Purāṇic-Vedāṅga tradition.

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

Bhakti is supported through contemplative imagery—envisioning the divine play in the Narmadā—while the verse simultaneously insists on correct verbal/metrical understanding, implying devotion grounded in disciplined recitation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights technical enumeration by pada (word/foot) and the identification of a passage as a six-part (ṣaḍaṅga) unit—useful for Chandas/recitation practice and for organizing mantra-texts in study.