Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4

Bhuvaneśī (Nidrā-Śakti) Mantra-vidhi, Nyāsa–Āvaraṇa Worship, Padma-homa Prayogas, and the Opening of Śrī-Mahālakṣmī Upāsanā

Devanagari script

ततो देवी जगत्कर्त्री शैवी शक्तिरनुत्तमा । नारायणाक्षिसंस्थाना निद्रा प्रीता बभूव ह ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

tato devī jagatkartrī śaivī śaktiranuttamā | nārāyaṇākṣisaṃsthānā nidrā prītā babhūva ha || 4 ||

Translation

Kemudian Sang Dewi—kuasa Śaivī yang tertinggi, pencipta alam—yang bersemayam di mata Nārāyaṇa sebagai Nidrā (Tidur), menjadi berkenan.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), अव्यय-प्रयोगः (adverb)

• devī: the Goddess
• devī: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• jagat-kartrī: creator of the world
• jagat-kartrī: Apposition (समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक) + kartrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समनाधिकरणे ‘devī’ इति; ‘जगतः कर्त्री’

• śaivī: Śaiva (belonging to Śiva)
• śaivī: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaivī (प्रातिपदिक; शैव)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषणम्—‘śaktiḥ’

• śaktiḥ: power
• śaktiḥ: Apposition (समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समनाधिकरणे ‘devī’ इति

• anuttamā: unsurpassed
• anuttamā: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anuttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषणम्—‘devī/śaktiḥ’

• nārāyaṇa-akṣi-saṃsthānā: dwelling in Nārāyaṇa’s eyes
• nārāyaṇa-akṣi-saṃsthānā: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nārāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣi (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃsthāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषणम्—‘nidrā’; ‘नारायणस्य अक्ष्णि/अक्षिषु संस्थाना’ (located in Nārāyaṇa’s eyes)

• nidrā: Sleep (personified)
• nidrā: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nidrā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समनाधिकरणे ‘devī’ इति

• prītā: pleased
• prītā: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prīta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √prī)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त; विशेषणम्—‘nidrā’

• babhūva: became
• babhūva: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• ha: indeed
• ha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), स्मरण/खलु-अर्थक निपात (emphatic particle)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narration within the Narada Purana)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Devi (Shakti)
• Shiva (Shaiva Shakti)
• Narayana (Vishnu)

FAQs

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

It identifies Nidrā (sleep) not as mere inertia but as a divine Śakti—an unsurpassed cosmic power—showing that even states like sleep are governed by the Goddess and integrated into the Purāṇic vision of creation and control of the universe.

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

By portraying Nārāyaṇa as the locus where divine powers reside, it encourages reverence toward the Lord and recognition that all functions of life are permeated by divinity—supporting a bhakti outlook of surrender and sacred awareness in every state.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

While not teaching a specific Vedāṅga procedure, the verse uses precise theological terminology (Śakti, Nārāyaṇa, Nidrā) that aligns with disciplined interpretation and definition—akin to the Vedāṅga spirit of careful linguistic and doctrinal clarity (vyākaraṇa/nirukta-style precision).