Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 165

Nityā-paṭala-prakaraṇa

The Exposition of the Nityā-paṭala

Devanagari script

अरण्यवटमूले च पर्वताग्रगुहासु च । उद्यानमध्यकांतारे मातृपादपमूलतः ॥ १६५ ॥

Transliteration

araṇyavaṭamūle ca parvatāgraguhāsu ca | udyānamadhyakāṃtāre mātṛpādapamūlataḥ || 165 ||

Translation

അരണ്യത്തിലെ വടവൃക്ഷത്തിന്റെ മൂലത്തിലും, പർവ്വതശിഖരങ്ങളിലെ ഗുഹകളിലും, ഉദ്യാനമദ്ധ്യത്തിലെ ഏകാന്ത കാന്താരത്തിലും, ‘മാതൃവൃക്ഷ’ത്തിന്റെ അടിവേരിലും—(ഇവ সাধനയ്ക്ക് യോജ്യസ്ഥലങ്ങൾ).

Word by Word

• अरण्यवटमूले: at the root of the banyan (tree) in the forest
• अरण्यवटमूले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरण्य + वट + मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अरण्यस्य वटः, तस्य मूलम्)

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• पर्वताग्रगुहासु: in caves on mountain-peaks
• पर्वताग्रगुहासु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वत + अग्र + गुहा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (पर्वतस्य अग्रे गुहाः)

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• उद्यानमध्यकान्तारे: in a wilderness within a garden
• उद्यानमध्यकान्तारे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उद्यान + मध्य + कान्तार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (उद्यानस्य मध्ये कान्तारः)

• मातृपादपमूलतः: from the root of the mother-tree
• मातृपादपमूलतः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मातृ + पादप + मूल + तः (प्रातिपदिक + अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb ‘from’); तत्पुरुष-समास (मातुः पादपः, तस्य मूलम्)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, Vedanga/discipline-oriented setting)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that spiritual disciplines such as japa, dhyana, and tapas are strengthened by a quiet, pure, and secluded environment—forest banyan-roots, mountain caves, and sacred groves—where distractions are minimal.

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

By recommending solitude and sacred natural settings, it supports steady remembrance of the Lord (smaraṇa) and focused chanting (nāma-japa), which are practical foundations for sustained Vishnu-bhakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects applied discipline connected to ritual-technical conduct: selecting an appropriate desha (place) for practice, aligning environment with purity and concentration—an important practical principle used alongside mantra-vidhi and observance rules.