Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 170

Jyotiṣa-śāstra Saṅgraha: Threefold Division, Gaṇita Methods, Muhūrta, and Planetary Reckoning

Devanagari script

पंचत्वे गोंकविशिखाः शेषकर्णहताः पृथक् । विकृज्यकांगसिद्धाग्निभक्तालब्धोनसंयुताः ॥ १७० ॥

Transliteration

paṃcatve goṃkaviśikhāḥ śeṣakarṇahatāḥ pṛthak | vikṛjyakāṃgasiddhāgnibhaktālabdhonasaṃyutāḥ || 170 ||

Translation

Dalam pengelompokan lima, terdapat golongan seperti Goṅkaviśikhā dan Śeṣakarṇahatā yang dibezakan secara tersendiri; dan ada pula yang lain—mereka yang anggota tubuhnya berubah, yang sempurna melalui disiplin, yang berbakti kepada Agni (api suci), yang tekun dalam pemujaan, serta yang memperoleh apa yang dahulu belum diperoleh—masing-masing dengan ciri-cirinya.

Word by Word

• पञ्चत्वे: in the fivefold state / in five cases
• पञ्चत्वे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्चत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; locative singular; द्विगु-समास: पञ्च + त्व (state of fivefoldness)

• गोङ्क-विशिखाः: (those) having ‘goṅka’ as arrow-tips / goṅka-tipped (entities)
• गोङ्क-विशिखाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोङ्क + विशिखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; nominative plural; समास: गोङ्क-विशिखा (निर्दिष्ट-तत्पुरुष/उपपद)

• शेष-कर्ण-हताः: struck/removed at the remaining ‘ears’ (or ear-like parts)
• शेष-कर्ण-हताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शेष + कर्ण + हत (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; past passive participle (क्त) from √हन्; समास: शेष-कर्ण-हत (तत्पुरुष)

• पृथक्: separately
• पृथक्: Prakara (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; भेदवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of separation)

• विकृज्य: having cut/altered
• विकृज्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वि+कृज्/कृन्त् (धातु)
• Form: अव्यय; क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्-प्रत्यय (gerund) ‘having cut/modified’; पाठ ‘विकृज्य’ अनिश्चित (विकृत्य इति सम्भाव्य)

• काङ्ग-सिद्ध-अग्नि-भक्त-अलब्ध-ओन-संयुताः: joined with (items) such as kāṅga, perfected, fire, offering, unobtained, and ‘ona’
• काङ्ग-सिद्ध-अग्नि-भक्त-अलब्ध-ओन-संयुताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काङ्ग + सिद्ध + अग्नि + भक्त + अलब्ध + ओन + संयुत (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; ‘संयुत’ (क्त) from √युज् with सम्; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास (श्रृङ्खला)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in Moksha-Dharma context)

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?

It presents a fivefold typology of practitioners or groups, emphasizing that seekers differ by temperament and discipline (fire-worship, devotional worship, perfected practice), yet each is recognized within a structured spiritual framework.

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

By explicitly naming “bhaktas” (devotees) and placing them among recognized spiritual types, the verse validates devotion as a legitimate and distinct sādhanā alongside austerity/perfection and Vedic fire-oriented practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse indirectly points to ritual discipline through “Agni-bhakti,” implying competence in Vedic ritual performance (kalpa-oriented practice), even though no single Vedāṅga is taught explicitly in this line.