Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 155

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

Devanagari script

पठनीयं प्रयत्नेन भुक्तिं मुक्तिं समिच्छता । भूतिदा भुवना वाणी महावसुमती मही ॥ १५५ ॥

Transliteration

paṭhanīyaṃ prayatnena bhuktiṃ muktiṃ samicchatā | bhūtidā bhuvanā vāṇī mahāvasumatī mahī || 155 ||

Translation

ਜੋ ਭੋਗ ਅਤੇ ਮੁਕਤੀ ਦੋਵੇਂ ਚਾਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ, ਉਹ ਇਸ ਦਾ ਜਤਨ ਨਾਲ ਪਾਠ ਕਰੇ। ਇਹ ਸਮ੍ਰਿੱਧੀ ਦੇਣ ਵਾਲੀ ਹੈ; ਇਹ ਭੁਵਨਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਧਾਰਨ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲੀ ਵਾਣੀ ਹੈ; ਇਹ ਮਹਾਵਸੁਮਤੀ ਧਰਤੀ ਮਾਤਾ ਆਪ ਹੈ॥੧੫੫॥

Word by Word

• paṭhanīyam: should be recited
• paṭhanīyam: Vidhi (विधि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √paṭh (पठ् धातु) + anīya (अनीय)
• Form: Kṛtya (कृत्य) gerundive/obligative (अनीय-प्रत्ययान्त); Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; 'to be recited'

• prayatnena: with effort
• prayatnena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prayatna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; instrumental of manner

• bhuktim: enjoyment/prosperity
• bhuktim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhukti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (2/द्वितीया), Ekavacana

• muktim: liberation
• muktim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mukti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• samicchatā: by (one) desiring
• samicchatā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam + √iṣ (इष् धातु) / √icch (इच्छ् धातु)
• Form: Vartamāna-kṛdanta (present active participle, शतृ/शानच् sense); Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; agrees with implied 'janena' (by one who desires)

• bhūti-dā: giver of prosperity
• bhūti-dā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhūti (प्रातिपदिक) + dā (दा-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Upapada-tatpuruṣa (उपपद-तत्पुरुष) 'bhūtiṃ dadāti'; Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; epithet

• bhuvanā: Bhuvanā (world-sustainer)
• bhuvanā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhuvana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana (as name/epithet)

• vāṇī: Vāṇī (speech)
• vāṇī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• mahā-vasumatī: the great wealthy one
• mahā-vasumatī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + vasumatī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) 'mahā ca sā vasumatī'; Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• mahī: Earth
• mahī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a Vedanga-oriented context, as preserved in Book 1.3)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It teaches that disciplined sacred recitation (svādhyāya/paṭhana) is a complete means: it yields both bhukti (well-being in life) and mukti (liberation), because sacred speech is portrayed as world-sustaining and intrinsically auspicious.

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

While not naming a deity here, it frames recitation as a wholehearted, effortful practice—an attitude central to bhakti—where reverent engagement with sacred utterance becomes a living spiritual discipline that grants both grace in life and freedom.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes correct and diligent paṭhana (recitation/study), aligning with Vedanga concerns such as Śikṣā (phonetics/intonation) and Vyākaraṇa (linguistic discipline), where effortful accuracy is treated as essential to obtaining results.