Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 85

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मणे षट्सहस्रं तु हंसारूढाय चार्पयेत् । विद्युल्लसितमेघाभे डादिफांतार्णपत्रके ॥ ८५ ॥

Transliteration

brahmaṇe ṣaṭsahasraṃ tu haṃsārūḍhāya cārpayet | vidyullasitameghābhe ḍādiphāṃtārṇapatrake || 85 ||

Translation

హంసారూఢుడైన బ్రహ్మకు ఆరు వేల (జప/ఆహుతులు) అర్పించాలి. మెరుపులతో ప్రకాశించే మేఘంలా కనిపించే, ‘డ’ నుండి ‘ఫ’ వరకు అక్షరాలతో యుక్తమైన పత్రకంపై (యంత్ర/తాలిస్మాన్) సమర్పించాలి॥

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मणे: to Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणे: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; सम्प्रदान

• षट्सहस्रम्: six thousand
• षट्सहस्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट् (संख्या) + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगुसमास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

• तु: indeed
• तु: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• हंस-आरूढाय: to him who is mounted on a swan
• हंस-आरूढाय: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हंस (प्रातिपदिक) + आरूढ (कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (हंसे आरूढः); पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; सम्प्रदान

• च: and
• च: Particle/Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• अर्पयेत्: should offer
• अर्पयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्पय्/अर्प् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• विद्युत्-लसित-मेघाभे: cloud-hued, shining like lightning
• विद्युत्-लसित-मेघाभे: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विद्युत् (प्रातिपदिक) + लसित (कृदन्त) + मेघ (प्रातिपदिक) + आभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास (तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-प्राय); सप्तमी, एकवचन (अधिकरणे विशेषणम्)

• डादिफान्तार्णपत्रके: in the petalled (lotus) associated with syllables from ‘ḍa’ etc. up to ‘pha’ (etc.)
• डादिफान्तार्णपत्रके: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: डादि (प्रातिपदिक) + फान्त (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + पत्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास (निर्देशात्मक-तत्पुरुष); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; अधिकरण

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Hamsa (swan symbol)

FAQs

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

It prescribes a quantified devotional/ritual dedication (six thousand) directed to Brahmā, emphasizing precision in mantra-letters and ritual implements (a leaf-inscription), showing that disciplined sacred sound and correct procedure are themselves acts of reverence.

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

Bhakti here appears as focused offering (arpayet) to a deity-form (Brahmā as haṃsārūḍha), where devotion is expressed through faithful completion of a vowed count and careful preparation of the sacred medium (patraka with arranged syllables).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights technical mantra-application and akṣara (letter/syllable) arrangement—skills aligned with Śikṣā (phonetics) and ritual procedure—showing how precise sound-units and prescribed counts are used in formal worship.