Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 121

Mokṣopāya: Bhakti-rooted Jñāna and the Aṣṭāṅga Yoga of Viṣṇu-Meditation

Devanagari script

जंतूनां दक्षिणा नाडी पिंगला परिकीर्तिता । सूर्यदैवतका चैव पितृयोनिरिति श्रुता ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

jaṃtūnāṃ dakṣiṇā nāḍī piṃgalā parikīrtitā | sūryadaivatakā caiva pitṛyoniriti śrutā || 21 ||

Translation

ଜୀବମାନଙ୍କର ଦକ୍ଷିଣ (ଡାହାଣ) ନାଡୀ ‘ପିଙ୍ଗଳା’ ବୋଲି ପରିକୀର୍ତ୍ତିତ। ତାହାର ଅଧିଦେବତା ସୂର୍ଯ୍ୟ ଏବଂ ଏହା ପିତୃଲୋକ-ସମ୍ବନ୍ଧୀ ମାର୍ଗ (ୟୋନି) ବୋଲି ଶ୍ରୁତ।

Word by Word

• जन्तूनाम्: of beings; of creatures
• जन्तूनाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• दक्षिणा: right (side)
• दक्षिणा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘नाडी’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• नाडी: nāḍī; channel
• नाडी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाडी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पिङ्गला: Piṅgalā (name of the channel)
• पिङ्गला: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिङ्गला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘नाडी’ इत्यस्य नाम/समानााधिकरण

• परिकीर्तिता: is declared; is described
• परिकीर्तिता: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + कीर्त् (धातु) → परिकीर्तित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘नाडी’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• सूर्यदैवतका: having the Sun as presiding deity
• सूर्यदैवतका: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + दैवतक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सूर्यः दैवतम् यस्याः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय

• पितृयोनिः: source/origin of the Pitṛs; ‘pitṛ-yoni’
• पितृयोनिः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक) + योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पितॄणां योनि:)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण-अव्यय (thus)

• श्रुता: is heard/known (as)
• श्रुता: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु) → श्रुत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘नाडी/पिङ्गला’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Surya
• Pitrs

FAQs

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

It identifies Piṅgalā as the right-side solar current in the subtle body and links it to Pitṛ-related movement, implying that inner energy-flow is relevant to ancestral rites and spiritual discipline.

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

While not directly teaching bhakti, it supports a Purāṇic framework where disciplined living, ritual purity, and understanding of subtle principles can aid devotional practice—especially when performing Pitṛ-karmas in a Viṣṇu-bhakti life.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects technical knowledge akin to Vedāṅga-aligned ritual application (timing and bodily/energetic considerations), useful when coordinating sūrya-related observances and Pitṛ rites within Narada Purana rituals.