Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 95

Mantra-Māhātmya and Sādhana of Kārtavīryārjuna

Nyāsa, Yantra, Homa, and Dīpa-Vrata

Devanagari script

कूर्माग्नी शांतिबिंद्वाढ्यौ वह्नि जायांकुशं ध्रुवम् । ऋषिः पूर्वोदितोनुष्टुप्छंदोऽन्यत्पूर्ववत्पुनः ॥ ९५ ॥

Transliteration

kūrmāgnī śāṃtibiṃdvāḍhyau vahni jāyāṃkuśaṃ dhruvam | ṛṣiḥ pūrvoditonuṣṭupchaṃdo'nyatpūrvavatpunaḥ || 95 ||

Translation

‘கூர்மாக்னி’, ‘சாந்தி-பிந்த்வாட்ய’, ‘வஹ்னி’, ‘ஜாயா-அங்குஷ’, ‘த்ருவ’—இம்மந்திரங்களுக்கு ரிஷி முன் கூறியவரே; சந்தம் அனுஷ்டுப்; மற்ற விதிநியோகங்களும் மீண்டும் முன்புபோலவே.

Word by Word

• कूर्माग्नी: Kūrma and Agni
• कूर्माग्नी: विधेय/अङ्ग (Mantra components)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व: ‘कूर्मः च अग्निः च’ (mantra-nyāsa components)

• शान्तिबिन्द्वाढ्यौ: endowed with the śānti-bindu
• शान्तिबिन्द्वाढ्यौ: विशेषण (Qualifier of ‘कूर्माग्नी’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + बिन्दु (प्रातिपदिक) + आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, द्विवचन; ‘शान्ति-बिन्दु-आढ्य’ = endowed with the śānti-bindu

• वह्नि: Agni / fire
• वह्नि: कर्म/अङ्ग (Object/component)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (वह्निम्—अन्त्य-लोप/पाठभेद)

• जाया-अङ्कुशम्: Jāyā-aṅkuśa (a named element)
• जाया-अङ्कुशम्: कर्म/अङ्ग (Object/component)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाया (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्कुश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘जायायाः अङ्कुशः/अङ्कुशम्’ (as a named component)

• ध्रुवम्: Dhruva (fixed/polar; a named element)
• ध्रुवम्: कर्म/अङ्ग (Object/component)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ऋषिः: the seer (ṛṣi)
• ऋषिः: कर्ता/विधेय (Predicate nominal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पूर्वोदितः: previously stated
• पूर्वोदितः: विशेषण (Qualifier of ‘ऋषिः’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + उदित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष: ‘पूर्वम् उदितः’ = previously stated

• अनुष्टुप्: Anuṣṭubh (meter)
• अनुष्टुप्: विधेय (Predicate nominal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुष्टुप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (छन्दः-नाम), प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; छन्दोनाम

• छन्दः: meter
• छन्दः: विधेय (Predicate nominal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छन्दस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अन्यत्: the rest/other (details)
• अन्यत्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘other/remaining’

• पूर्ववत्: as before
• पूर्ववत्: प्रकार (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्ववत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण; ‘as before’

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: क्रम/पुनरुक्ति (Repetition)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण; ‘again’

Speaker

Narada (instructional narration within Vedanga/ritual-technical context; dialogue frame traditionally with Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Kūrma
• Dhruva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes disciplined mantra-practice: knowing the ṛṣi and chandas anchors a mantra in its revealed tradition, ensuring the recitation is aligned with śāstra and yields steadiness (dhruvatā) and peace (śānti) in ritual aims.

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

Indirectly: by prescribing correct mantra-context (ṛṣi and Anuṣṭubh metre), it supports orderly worship where devotion is expressed through accurate recitation and ritual procedure rather than improvisation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Chandas (Vedic prosody): it specifies Anuṣṭubh as the metre and indicates that other technical items (like viniyoga/nyāsa conventions) follow earlier instructions—typical of Vedanga-style ritual manuals.