Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 161

Rādhā-sambaddha-mantra-vyākhyā

Rādhā-Related Mantras Explained

Devanagari script

प्रतिलोमादिभी रूपैर्द्विसप्ततिभिदा मता । यस्या भजनतः सिद्धो नरः स्यात्खेचरः सुखी ॥ १६१ ॥

Transliteration

pratilomādibhī rūpairdvisaptatibhidā matā | yasyā bhajanataḥ siddho naraḥ syātkhecaraḥ sukhī || 161 ||

Translation

‘பிரதிலோம’ முதலிய ரூபங்களால் இது எழுபத்திரண்டு (த்விஸப்ததி) வகைகளாகப் பிரிக்கப்பட்டதாகக் கருதப்படுகிறது. இதை பக்தியுடன் பஜித்தால் சாதகர் சித்தி பெற்று, மகிழ்வான ‘கேசர’—ஆகாயத்தில் இயங்குபவன்—ஆகிறான்.

Word by Word

• प्रतिलोमादिभिः: by forms such as reverse (order), etc.
• प्रतिलोमादिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिलोम + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; Masculine, Instrumental plural; समासः—तत्पुरुष (प्रतिलोमः आदिः येषाम्)

• रूपैः: by forms
• रूपैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; Neuter, Instrumental plural

• द्विसप्ततिभिदा: by a seventy-twofold division
• द्विसप्ततिभिदा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वि + सप्तति + भिदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; Feminine, Instrumental singular; समासः—तत्पुरुष (द्विसप्ततेः भिदा = 72-fold division)

• मता: is considered
• मता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु) → मत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Past passive participle (predicative)

• यस्याः: of whom/whose
• यस्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; Feminine, Genitive singular

• भजनतः: of (one) who worships
• भजनतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भज् (धातु) → भजनत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Present active participle used as verbal noun; ‘of (one) worshipping’

• सिद्धः: accomplished/perfected
• सिद्धः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिद्ध (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Nominative singular; विशेषणम् नरः

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन; Masculine, Nominative singular

• स्यात्: would become
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Optative, 3rd person singular

• खेचरः: a sky-goer (one who moves in the air)
• खेचरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खेचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Nominative singular; विधेय-नाम (predicate noun)

• सुखी: happy
• सुखी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुखिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Nominative singular; विशेषणम् नरः/खेचरः

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It highlights a technical doctrine: a specific vidyā/mantra-practice is said to have many formal variants, and disciplined bhajana (practice/recitation) is presented as a cause of siddhi—inner accomplishment expressed symbolically as khecara (sky-moving freedom) and happiness.

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

Even within a technical framework of forms and classifications, the verse makes attainment depend on bhajanataḥ—steadfast devotional practice—implying that method must be energized by committed engagement, not mere theory.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects a technical, rule-based approach to mantra application—classification by ‘forms’ (rūpa) such as pratiloma—aligned with the Narada Purana’s Third Pada focus on specialized sciences and structured recitation methods.