Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 96

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

Devanagari script

मुखनासादिकर्णेषु गुदेषु श्रीमुखार्णकान् । ततो वाग्देवतां ध्यायेद्वीणापुस्तकधारिणीम् ॥ ९६ ॥

Transliteration

mukhanāsādikarṇeṣu gudeṣu śrīmukhārṇakān | tato vāgdevatāṃ dhyāyedvīṇāpustakadhāriṇīm || 96 ||

Translation

Pada mulut, hidung, telinga, dan juga pada dubur, hendaklah (dalam batin) diletakkan aksara-aksara bija yang suci bermula dengan “śrī”. Sesudah itu hendaklah bermeditasi kepada Dewi Ucapan (Vāgdevatā), yang memegang vīṇā dan sebuah kitab.

Word by Word

• मुखनासादिकर्णेषु: in the mouth, nose, etc., and ears
• मुखनासादिकर्णेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुखनासादिकर्ण (प्रातिपदिक: मुख + नासा + आदि + कर्ण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; अधिकरणे (in/at)

• गुदेषु: in the anus (regions)
• गुदेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; अधिकरणे

• श्रीमुखार्णकान्: the auspicious syllables/letters (mukhārṇakas)
• श्रीमुखार्णकान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीमुखार्णक (प्रातिपदिक: श्री + मुख + अर्णक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; न्यास्य-वस्तु

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रमसूचक-अव्यय (then/thereafter)

• वाक्देवताम्: the deity of speech
• वाक्देवताम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्देवता (प्रातिपदिक: वाक् + देवता)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ध्यायेत्: should meditate upon
• ध्यायेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), तृतीयपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वीणापुस्तकधारिणीम्: bearing a lute and a book
• वीणापुस्तकधारिणीम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीणापुस्तकधारिणी (प्रातिपदिक: वीणा + पुस्तक + धारिणी)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying वाक्देवताम्)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vagdevata (Sarasvati)

FAQs

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

It teaches a nyāsa-style inner placement of sacred syllables and then directs the practitioner to contemplate Vāgdevī, indicating that purified speech and mantra-power culminate in devotion to the presiding deity of Vāk.

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

Bhakti here takes the form of focused dhyāna: after sanctifying the body with mantra-syllables, the devotee lovingly fixes the mind on Sarasvatī as the living source of sacred speech and scripture.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Śikṣā and mantra-vidhi: the use of varṇas/bīja-syllables (letters) in a ritual visualization (nyāsa) to stabilize pronunciation, memory, and sacred recitation before deity-meditation.