Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 150

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

Devanagari script

श्यामा सरस्वती वृद्धा वैष्णवी गरुडासना । शंखचक्राभयकरा पातु शैवीं दिशं मम ॥ १५० ॥

Transliteration

śyāmā sarasvatī vṛddhā vaiṣṇavī garuḍāsanā | śaṃkhacakrābhayakarā pātu śaivīṃ diśaṃ mama || 150 ||

Translation

ശ്യാമവർണയായ, വൃദ്ധയായ സരസ്വതി—വൈഷ്ണവിയായി, ഗരുഡാസനസ്ഥയായി, ശംഖം-ചക്രം-അഭയമുദ്ര ധരിച്ചവൾ—എന്റെ ശൈവ ദിക്കിനെ കാക്കട്ടെ।

Word by Word

• śyāmā: dark-complexioned
• śyāmā: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śyāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa

• sarasvatī: Sarasvatī
• sarasvatī: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarasvatī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; devatā-nāma

• vṛddhā: aged/elder
• vṛddhā: Karta (कर्ता/subject-complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa

• vaiṣṇavī: Vaiṣṇavī (power of Viṣṇu)
• vaiṣṇavī: Karta (कर्ता/subject-complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaiṣṇavī (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; devī-viśeṣa (Vaiṣṇavī)

• garuḍa-āsanā: having Garuḍa as seat/vehicle
• garuḍa-āsanā: Karta (कर्ता/subject-complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: garuḍa (प्रातिपदिक) + āsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa—‘garuḍaḥ āsanaṃ yasyāḥ sā’

• śaṃkha-cakra-abhaya-karā: whose hands bear conch, discus, and the fear-not gesture
• śaṃkha-cakra-abhaya-karā: Karta (कर्ता/subject-complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaṃkha (प्रातिपदिक) + cakra (प्रातिपदिक) + abhaya (प्रातिपदिक) + kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; bahu-vastu-dhāraṇa-artha tatpuruṣa—‘śaṃkha-cakra-abhayaṃ karāḥ (hastāḥ) yasyāḥ sā’

• pātu: may (she) protect
• pātu: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pā (पा धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra, Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• śaivīm: Śaivī (of Śiva)
• śaivīm: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaivī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; diśaḥ viśeṣaṇa (qualifier of direction)

• diśam: direction
• diśam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: diś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• mama: my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (षष्ठी/gen.), Ekavacana; sarvanāma (pronoun)

Speaker

Narada (in a protective/dik-bandhana style invocation within the instructional flow)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Sarasvati
• Vaishnavi (aspect of Devi)
• Garuda
• Vishnu (implied by Vaiṣṇavī and conch/discus)
• Shiva (Śaiva direction)

FAQs

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

It functions as a directional-protection (dik-rakṣā/dikbandhana) invocation, harmonizing Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava symbolism by asking a Devi-form bearing Viṣṇu’s emblems to guard the Śaiva quarter.

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

Bhakti is expressed through remembrance and surrender: the devotee calls upon the deity with specific forms, attributes, and weapons (śaṅkha-cakra-abhaya), trusting divine protection across all quarters.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects ritual application—mantric nyāsa/directional guarding used in worship procedures—showing how precise epithets and iconographic markers are employed as a practical liturgical technique.