Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 53

The Narration of the Trayodaśī Vow Observed Throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

वृषध्वजाय सोमाय सोमनाथाय वै नमः । दिगंबराय भृंगाय उमाकांताय वर्द्धिने ॥ ५३ ॥

Transliteration

vṛṣadhvajāya somāya somanāthāya vai namaḥ | digaṃbarāya bhṛṃgāya umākāṃtāya varddhine || 53 ||

Translation

นอบน้อมแด่ผู้ทรงธงวัว แด่โสม และแด่โสมนาถ; นอบน้อมแด่ทิคัมพรผู้ห่มฟ้า แด่ภฤงคะ และแด่อุมากานตะ ผู้ทรงเพิ่มพูนความเจริญและประทานความงอกงาม।

Word by Word

• vṛṣadhvajāya: to the Bull-bannered One
• vṛṣadhvajāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛṣa + dhvaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th), Singular; tatpuruṣa: vṛṣa-dhvaja 'having the bull as banner'

• somāya: to Soma
• somāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: soma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th), Singular

• somanāthāya: to Somanātha (Lord of Soma)
• somanāthāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: soma + nātha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th), Singular; tatpuruṣa: soma-nātha 'lord of Soma'

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle (निपात)

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya, salutation particle

• digaṃbarāya: to Digambara (sky-clad)
• digaṃbarāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dik + ambara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th), Singular; tatpuruṣa: dig-ambara 'clad in the quarters (directions)'

• bhṛṃgāya: to Bhṛṅga
• bhṛṃgāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhṛṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th), Singular

• umākāṃtāya: to Umākānta (beloved of Umā)
• umākāṃtāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: umā + kānta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th), Singular; tatpuruṣa: umā-kānta 'beloved of Umā'

• varddhine: to the Increaser/Grower
• varddhine: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vardhin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th), Singular; -in stem (vardhine)

Speaker

Narada (in a stotra/namaskāra sequence as part of the Anukramanika-style summary)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Soma
• Somanatha
• Uma (Parvati)

FAQs

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

It functions as a concentrated namaskāra (salutation) listing potent epithets of Śiva—Somanātha, Digambara, Umākānta—teaching that remembrance of the Lord through names is itself a complete act of devotion and purification.

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

By presenting multiple divine names in one breath, it models nāma-smaraṇa and stotra-pāṭha: devotion expressed through reverent address, surrender (namaḥ), and contemplation of the Lord’s qualities (asceticism, lordship, grace, and increase of auspiciousness).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Primarily Vyākaraṇa/etymological awareness: the compound epithets (vṛṣa-dhvaja, soma-nātha, dig-ambara, umā-kānta) show how meaning is carried through Sanskrit compounding, aiding correct recitation and contemplative understanding during ritual chanting.