Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 19

The Narration of the Navamī Vow Observed Across the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

शूलं शक्तिं च परशुं धुरिकां चर्म खेटकम् । छत्रं ध्वजं गजं चाश्व गोवृषं पुस्तकं तुलाम् ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

śūlaṃ śaktiṃ ca paraśuṃ dhurikāṃ carma kheṭakam | chatraṃ dhvajaṃ gajaṃ cāśva govṛṣaṃ pustakaṃ tulām || 19 ||

Translation

ตรีศูล หอก (ศักติ) ขวาน (ปรศุ) แอก; โล่หนัง; ร่มและธงชัย; ช้างและม้า; วัวเพศเมียและวัวเพศผู้; คัมภีร์และตาชั่ง—สิ่งเหล่านี้ (พึงบูชา)

Word by Word

• शूलम्: a trident/spear
• शूलम्: कर्म (Karma/Object) (पूज्य-वस्तु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शक्तिम्: a spear/lance
• शक्तिम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction: and)

• परशुम्: an axe
• परशुम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• धुरिकाम्: a yoke/shoulder-piece (dhurikā)
• धुरिकाम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धुरिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• चर्म: a hide/leather (shield-cover)
• चर्म: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• खेटकम्: a shield
• खेटकम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खेटक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• छत्रम्: an umbrella
• छत्रम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ध्वजम्: a banner/flag
• ध्वजम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गजम्: an elephant
• गजम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• अश्वम्: a horse
• अश्वम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गो-वृषम्: a bull
• गो-वृषम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक) + वृष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (गोवृषः = a bull/cow-bull)

• पुस्तकम्: a book
• पुस्तकम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुस्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तुलाम्: a balance/scale
• तुलाम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (enumerative narration in the Anukramanika section; traditional dialogue frame is Narada teaching/reciting to sages including Sanatkumara lineages)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

This verse functions as an enumerative (anukramaṇikā) catalog of emblematic and practical dharmic items—weapons, insignia, animals, and instruments—signaling the Purana’s concern with both protection of dharma (āyudha) and the ordering of life through knowledge (pustaka) and justice/measure (tulā).

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

While not directly preaching bhakti, the verse supports bhakti culture by listing items commonly associated with divine sovereignty and temple/royal ritual (chatra, dhvaja) and with scriptural devotion (pustaka), implying that devotion is sustained by reverence for sacred symbols and study of dharma.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse most closely aligns with applied dharma and ritual culture rather than a single Vedāṅga; however, the presence of the “book” (pustaka) points to disciplined textual transmission (useful for Śikṣā/Vyākaraṇa study), and “scales” (tulā) evokes correct measure and fairness central to dharmic practice.