Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 149

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

Devanagari script

शुक्लवर्णा च सावित्री युवती वृषवाहना । कपालशूलकाक्षस्रग्धारिणी पातु वायवीम् ॥ १४९ ॥

Transliteration

śuklavarṇā ca sāvitrī yuvatī vṛṣavāhanā | kapālaśūlakākṣasragdhāriṇī pātu vāyavīm || 149 ||

Translation

श्वेतवर्णा, युवती, वृषभवाहिनी सावित्री—कपाल, त्रिशूल व रुद्राक्षमाळा धारण करणारी—वायव्य दिशेकडून माझे रक्षण करो।

Word by Word

• śukla-varṇā: white-complexioned
• śukla-varṇā: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śukla (प्रातिपदिक) + varṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Prathamā vibhakti (प्रथमा/nom.), Ekavacana (एकवचन); karmadhāraya—‘śuklaḥ varṇaḥ yasyāḥ sā’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; samuccaya-nipāta (समुच्चय-निपात/conjunction)

• sāvitrī: Sāvitrī
• sāvitrī: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāvitrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; devatā-nāma (देवता-नाम)

• yuvatī: young woman
• yuvatī: Karta (कर्ता/subject-complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yuvatī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)

• vṛṣa-vāhanā: having a bull as vehicle
• vṛṣa-vāhanā: Karta (कर्ता/subject-complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + vāhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa—‘vṛṣaḥ vāhanaṃ yasyāḥ sā’

• kapāla-śūla-kāka-akṣa-srak-dhāriṇī: bearing a skull, trident, crow-eyed (ornament), and garland
• kapāla-śūla-kāka-akṣa-srak-dhāriṇī: Karta (कर्ता/subject-complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kapāla (प्रातिपदिक) + śūla (प्रातिपदिक) + kāka (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + sraj (प्रातिपदिक) + dhārinī (कृदन्त; √dhṛ धातु)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; dhārinī = vartamāna-kṛdanta (वर्तमानकृदन्त/present participial adjective) from √dhṛ (धृ) ‘to bear’; pūrva-pada-samuccaya (समुच्चय) of items borne (kapāla, śūla, etc.)

• pātu: may (she) protect
• pātu: Kriyā (क्रिया/verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pā (पा धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (लोट्/imperative), Prathama-puruṣa (प्रथमपुरुष/3rd), Ekavacana (एकवचन); parasmaipada

• vāyavīm: the Vāyavī (wind) direction
• vāyavīm: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāyavī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā vibhakti (द्वितीया/acc.), Ekavacana; diś-viśeṣaṇā (directional epithet)

Speaker

Sūta (narrating the hymn/mantra portion as transmitted in the Purāṇic dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Savitri
• Vayu

FAQs

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

It functions as a kavaca-style protection, assigning a specific Devī-form (Sāvitrī) to guard the Vāyavī direction, symbolically harmonizing the practitioner with elemental forces (vāyu) through mantra and devotion.

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

By invoking the Devī with reverence and specific attributes, the verse models bhakti as focused remembrance (smaraṇa) and surrender for protection, supporting steady practice of dharma and worship without obstacles.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects mantra-viniyoga and ritual application—using precise epithets and directional assignment (dik) typical of kalpa-style procedure, often paired with recitation rules and protective rites in Purāṇic practice.