Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 66

The Account of the Lalitā Hymn, the Protective Armor

Kavaca), and the Thousand Names (Sahasranāma

Devanagari script

कालमुद्रा मातृकाख्या रत्नदेशोपदेशिका । तत्त्वाग्रहगाभिधा मूर्तिस्तथैव विषयद्विपा ॥ ६६ ॥

Transliteration

kālamudrā mātṛkākhyā ratnadeśopadeśikā | tattvāgrahagābhidhā mūrtistathaiva viṣayadvipā || 66 ||

Translation

അതുപോലെ ‘കാലമുദ്രാ’, ‘മാതൃകാ’, ‘രത്നദേശോപദേശികാ’, ‘തത്ത്വാഗ്രഹഗാ’ എന്നിങ്ങനെ (ഈ ശാസനങ്ങൾ/സാധനകൾ) അറിയപ്പെടുന്നു; അതുപോലെ ‘മൂർത്തി’യും ‘വിഷയദ്വിപാ’യും ഉണ്ട്.

Word by Word

• kāla-mudrā: Kālamudrā (seal/gesture of time)
• kāla-mudrā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक) + mudrā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: कालस्य मुद्रा)

• mātṛkā-ākhyā: named ‘Mātṛkā’
• mātṛkā-ākhyā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mātṛkā (प्रातिपदिक) + ākhyā (आख्या धातु/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (नाम-तत्पुरुषः: मातृका इति आख्या/नाम यस्याः)

• ratna-deśa-upadeśikā: instructor/teacher of the jewel-region (ratna-deśa)
• ratna-deśa-upadeśikā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratna (प्रातिपदिक) + deśa (प्रातिपदिक) + upadeśikā (उपदिश् धातु, कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (रत्नदेशस्य उपदेशिका); 'upadeśikā' = उपदिश्-धातुज कृदन्त (ण्वुल्/इका), उपदेष्ट्री

• tattva-agraha-gā-abhidhā: having the designation/name ‘Tattvāgrahagā’
• tattva-agraha-gā-abhidhā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tattva (प्रातिपदिक) + agraha (प्रातिपदिक) + gā (गम् धातु, कृदन्त) + abhidhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुषः: तत्त्वाग्रहगाया अभिधा/नाम); 'gā' = गम्-धातुज कृदन्त (ग/गा), स्त्री

• mūrtiḥ: form/embodiment
• mūrtiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• tathā: thus/so
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• eva: indeed/also
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle of emphasis)

• viṣaya-dvipā: Viṣayadvipā (island/elephant-like form related to objects of sense)
• viṣaya-dvipā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣaya (प्रातिपदिक) + dvipā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: विषयस्य द्विपा/द्वीपा)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

The verse catalogs specialized vidyās (knowledge-systems) that support dharma—especially mantra-practice, correct phonetics/letters (mātṛkā), and form-based worship (mūrti)—showing that spiritual life is aided by precise auxiliary sciences.

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

By including 'Mūrti' and 'Mātṛkā', it implies bhakti is strengthened through correct mantra-recitation (sound/letters) and proper icon/form understanding, aligning worship with śāstra rather than mere sentiment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The emphasis on Mātṛkā points to śikṣā/phonetics and the discipline of correct sound-units used in mantra, while the other named vidyās indicate applied śāstras (classification of principles, forms, and specialized teachings).