Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 108

Yakṣiṇī-Mantra-Sādhana Nirūpaṇa

Lakṣmī-avatāra-vidyāḥ: Bālā, Annapūrṇā, Bagalā

Devanagari script

भ्राम्यत्कुलालचक्रस्थां गृहीत्वा मृत्तिकां तथा । रचयेदृषभं रम्यं यंत्रं तन्मध्यतः क्षिपेत् ॥ १०८ ॥

Transliteration

bhrāmyatkulālacakrasthāṃ gṛhītvā mṛttikāṃ tathā | racayedṛṣabhaṃ ramyaṃ yaṃtraṃ tanmadhyataḥ kṣipet || 108 ||

Translation

ചുറ്റുന്ന കുശവൻചക്രത്തിലെ മണ്ണ് എടുത്ത് മനോഹരമായ ഋഷഭം രൂപപ്പെടുത്തി, അതിന്റെ മദ്ധ്യത്തിൽ യന്ത്രം സ്ഥാപിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• भ्राम्यत्: spinning, revolving
• भ्राम्यत्: विशेषण (विशेष्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भ्राम्यत् (कृदन्त; √भ्रम् धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रातिपदिकरूपम्; समासे पूर्वपदम्

• कुलाल-चक्र-स्थाम्: (clay) placed on the potter’s wheel
• कुलाल-चक्र-स्थाम्: कर्म (Karma/Direct object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुलाल (प्रातिपदिक) + चक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + स्था (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (कुलालस्य चक्रे स्था = on the potter’s wheel)

• गृहीत्वा: having taken
• गृहीत्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having taken’

• मृत्तिकाम्: clay
• मृत्तिकाम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्तिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• तथा: thus, likewise
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: ‘thus/likewise’)

• रचयेत्: should fashion/make
• रचयेत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √रच् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• ऋषभम्: a bull
• ऋषभम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• रम्यम्: beautiful, pleasing
• रम्यम्: विशेषण (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (ऋषभम्)

• यन्त्रम्: a yantra/diagram
• यन्त्रम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• तत्-मध्यतः: from its middle
• तत्-मध्यतः: अपादान (Apādāna/Ablative source)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + मध्य (प्रातिपदिक) + तः (तसिल्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमासः; तसिलन्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb) = ‘from the middle of that’

• क्षिपेत्: should throw/place
• क्षिपेत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical/ritual-yantra context within Book 1.3)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Rishabha (bull symbol)

FAQs

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

It presents a precise ritual-technical method where sacred form (the ṛṣabha/bull) is used as a consecrated vessel for placing a yantra, showing how material craft is subordinated to dharmic and mantra-yantra discipline.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through careful, reverent workmanship—creating an auspicious form and correctly installing the yantra—indicating that devotion can be practiced as meticulous ritual service aligned with scriptural procedure.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights procedural ritual know-how (kalpa-style application): selection of material (clay), method of shaping (potter’s wheel), and correct placement/installation (centering the yantra), reflecting the technical orientation of Book 1.3.