Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 68

The Account of the Lalitā Hymn, the Protective Armor

Kavaca), and the Thousand Names (Sahasranāma

Devanagari script

वह्निसूर्येन्दुभूताह्वा तथात्माष्टाक्षराह्वया । पंचधार्यास्वरूपा च नानाव्रतसमाह्वया ॥ ६८ ॥

Transliteration

vahnisūryendubhūtāhvā tathātmāṣṭākṣarāhvayā | paṃcadhāryāsvarūpā ca nānāvratasamāhvayā || 68 ||

Translation

അവൾ അഗ്നി, സൂര്യൻ, ചന്ദ്രൻ, ഭൂതതത്ത്വങ്ങൾ എന്നീ നാമങ്ങളാൽ വിളിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു; അതുപോലെ ‘ആത്മ’ എന്നും അഷ്ടാക്ഷര മന്ത്രനാമത്താലും പ്രസിദ്ധയാണ്. അവൾ ‘പഞ്ചധാര്യ’ സ്വരൂപിണി; വിവിധ വ്രതങ്ങൾക്കനുസരിച്ച് അനേകം നാമങ്ങളാൽ പ്രസ്താവിതയാണ്.

Word by Word

• वह्नि-सूर्य-इन्दु-भूत-आह्वा: named as (connected with) fire, sun, moon, and elements
• वह्नि-सूर्य-इन्दु-भूत-आह्वा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्दु (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + आह्वा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः; विशेषणम् (fem. nom. sg.)

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रकारः—समुच्चय/उपमानार्थ-क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb: ‘also/likewise’)

• आत्म-अष्टाक्षर-आह्वया: named as ‘Ātman’ and as the ‘eight-syllabled (mantra)’
• आत्म-अष्टाक्षर-आह्वया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + अष्टाक्षर (प्रातिपदिक) + आह्वया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः; विशेषणम् (fem. nom. sg.)

• पञ्च-धार्या-स्वरूपा: having the form of the five ‘dhāryā’ (supports/holdings)
• पञ्च-धार्या-स्वरूपा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + धार्या (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः; विशेषणम् (fem. nom. sg.)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रकारः—समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction ‘and’)

• नाना-व्रत-समाह्वया: named by various vows/observances
• नाना-व्रत-समाह्वया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक) + समाह्वया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः; विशेषणम् (fem. nom. sg.)

Speaker

Narada (teaching within a Vedanga/vrata-technical context; dialogue lineage attributed to Narada’s instruction tradition with the Sanatkumara stream in this section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Surya
• Chandra
• Bhuta
• Atman
• Ashtakshara (Om Namo Narayanaya)
• Narayana

FAQs

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

It explains that a single religious discipline (vrata/observance) can be understood and invoked through multiple sacred designations—cosmic powers (fire, sun, moon, elements), inner reality (Ātman), and mantra-identity (the aṣṭākṣara)—showing a unified sacred framework behind diverse practices.

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

By highlighting the aṣṭākṣara (commonly ‘oṃ namo nārāyaṇāya’) as a defining name, it points to mantra-centered devotion to Nārāyaṇa as a core way vratas become acts of bhakti rather than mere ritual performance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse reflects technical categorization and nomenclature—how observances are named and grouped (e.g., pañca-dhārya, nānā-vrata)—a practical, śāstra-like method typical of Vedanga-adjacent sections that systematize ritual disciplines and their mantra associations.