Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 181

Rādhā-sambaddha-mantra-vyākhyā

Rādhā-Related Mantras Explained

Devanagari script

अष्टास्रं भूपुरद्वन्द्वावृतं तत्पुरयुग्मकम् । चतुर्द्वारयुतं दिक्षु शाखाभिश्च समन्वितम् ॥ १८१ ॥

Transliteration

aṣṭāsraṃ bhūpuradvandvāvṛtaṃ tatpurayugmakam | caturdvārayutaṃ dikṣu śākhābhiśca samanvitam || 181 ||

Translation

ते (यंत्र) अष्टकोनी असून भूपुरांच्या द्वंद्वाने वेढलेले आहे; त्यात पुरांचे युग्म आहे; दिशांमध्ये चार द्वारांनी युक्त व शाखा-प्रसारांनी समन्वित आहे।

Word by Word

• अष्ट-अस्रम्: eight-angled
• अष्ट-अस्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्ट (संख्या) + अस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु: 'eight-cornered' (आकृतिः)

• भूपुर-द्वन्द्व-आवृतम्: enclosed by a double bhūpura (outer enclosure)
• भूपुर-द्वन्द्व-आवृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूपुर (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वन्द्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आवृत (कृदन्त, आ+वृ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण: 'enclosed by a pair of bhūpura(s)'

• तत्-पुर-युग्मकम्: that pair of enclosures
• तत्-पुर-युग्मकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + पुर (प्रातिपदिक) + युग्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'a pair of those enclosures/cities'

• चतुर्-द्वार-युतम्: having four gates
• चतुर्-द्वार-युतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (संख्या) + द्वार (प्रातिपदिक) + युत (कृदन्त, यु/योज्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु: 'having four gates'

• दिक्षु: in the directions
• दिक्षु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

• शाखाभिः: with branches/arms (projections)
• शाखाभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• समन्वितम्: provided with / furnished
• समन्वितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्+अन्+इ (धातु/समन्वि) → समन्वित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त): 'endowed/combined'

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue instructing Narada on technical/ritual layout)

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 describes the sacred geometry of a ritual maṇḍala/yantra—an ordered, protected space (bhūpura, gates, and enclosures) used to invite and stabilize the deity’s presence and the practitioner’s concentration during worship.

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

While technical, it supports bhakti by prescribing a disciplined devotional environment: the four gates and protective enclosures symbolize regulated entry of the senses and a reverent, rule-bound approach to deity-worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights applied ritual-technical knowledge—directional orientation (dik), measured geometric construction (aṣṭāsra, bhūpura), and structured altar/diagram layout—skills aligned with śrauta/smārta ritual procedure and its ancillary technical traditions.