Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 132

Pañca-prakṛti-nirūpaṇa and Mantra-vidhi: Rādhā, Mahālakṣmī, Durgā, Sarasvatī, Sāvitrī; plus Sāvitrī-Pañjara

Devanagari script

आकाशोदरविभ्रांतां नाभ्यवांतरवीथिकाम् । प्रजापत्याख्यजघनां कटींद्राणीसमाश्रिताम् ॥ १३२ ॥

Transliteration

ākāśodaravibhrāṃtāṃ nābhyavāṃtaravīthikām | prajāpatyākhyajaghanāṃ kaṭīṃdrāṇīsamāśritām || 132 ||

Translation

അത് ‘ആകാശത്തിന്റെ ഉദര’ത്തിൽ സഞ്ചരിക്കുകയും നാഭിയുടെ അകത്തുള്ള പാതയിലൂടെ ഗമിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യുന്നു; അതിന്റെ ജഘനം ‘പ്രജാപത്യ’ എന്നു വിളിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു; ‘ഇന്ദ്രാണി’ എന്ന പേരുള്ള കട്ടിയിൽ അത് ആശ്രയിക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• आकाश-उदर-विभ्रान्ताम्: with a sky-like, expansive/whirling belly
• आकाश-उदर-विभ्रान्ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आकाश (प्रातिपदिक) + उदर (प्रातिपदिक) + विभ्रान्त (कृदन्त; वि√भ्रम् धातु, क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः (तत्पुरुष) — ‘आकाशम् इव उदरम्’/‘आकाश-उदर’ इति; विभ्रान्ता = ‘moving/whirling/expanded’

• नाभि-अवांतर-वीथिकाम्: having inner channels within the navel
• नाभि-अवांतर-वीथिकाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाभि (प्रातिपदिक) + अवांतर (प्रातिपदिक) + वीथिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः (तत्पुरुष) — ‘नाभेः अवान्तरा वीथिका’ (भीतरी मार्ग/गलिका)

• प्रजापति-आख्य-जघनाम्: having hips/loins named ‘Prajāpati’
• प्रजापति-आख्य-जघनाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रजापति (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्य (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; आ√ख्या धातु) + जघन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः (तत्पुरुष) — ‘प्रजापति-आख्यं जघनम्’ (प्रजापति-नामकं जघनम्)

• कटी-इन्द्राणी-समाश्रिताम्: resting on/associated with the waist called Indrāṇī
• कटी-इन्द्राणी-समाश्रिताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कटी (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्राणी (प्रातिपदिक) + समाश्रित (कृदन्त; सम्+आ√श्रि धातु, क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः (तत्पुरुष) — ‘कटी इन्द्राणीं समाश्रिता’/‘कटी-इन्द्राणी’ इति नाम-सम्बन्धः; समाश्रिता = ‘resting on/associated with’

Speaker

Narada (in a technical-cosmological exposition within Book 1.3)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Prajapati
• Indrani

FAQs

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

The verse uses body-like metaphors to map cosmic structure, training the mind to perceive the universe as an ordered, sacred system rather than random space—an approach consistent with Purāṇic cosmology and contemplative understanding.

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

While not directly prescribing bhakti practices, it supports devotion indirectly by presenting the cosmos as divinely structured; such ordered vision strengthens reverence (śraddhā) and the sense of living within a sacred, God-governed reality.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The terminology and ‘path/track’ language aligns with Jyotiṣa-style technical description—using named regions and structured pathways to describe cosmic movement and orientation, a hallmark of Vedāṅga-influenced exposition in Book 1.3.