Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 88

Rādhā-sambaddha-mantra-vyākhyā

Rādhā-Related Mantras Explained

Devanagari script

वनिता नवनीतस्य दाविकाग्निर्जयादिना । भूः स्वेन युक्ता प्रथमं प्राणो दाहेन तद्युतः ॥ ८८ ॥

Transliteration

vanitā navanītasya dāvikāgnirjayādinā | bhūḥ svena yuktā prathamaṃ prāṇo dāhena tadyutaḥ || 88 ||

Translation

สตรีเปรียบดังเนยสด; ส่วนไฟป่าด้วยอานุภาพแห่งชัยชนะและประการอื่น ย่อมเผาผลาญมัน. ตัตตวะ ‘ภู’ เป็นประการแรก ประกอบด้วยคุณของตน; และปราณมีพลังแห่งการเผาไหม้ จึงส่องประกายด้วยพลังนั้น.

Word by Word

• वनिता: woman/vanitā
• वनिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वनिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचनम्

• नवनीतस्य: of butter
• नवनीतस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नवनीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), एकवचनम्

• दाविकाग्निः: forest-fire
• दाविकाग्निः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दाविका + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः—दाविकायाः अग्निः (forest-fire)

• जयादिना: by/with ‘jayā’ etc. (beginning with jayā)
• जयादिना: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जया + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), एकवचनम्; ‘आदि’ समाहार/सम्बन्धे—‘जया’ इत्यादिना

• भूः: earth / bhū
• भूः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचनम्

• स्वेन: by/with one’s own
• स्वेन: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• युक्ता: joined/connected
• युक्ता: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युज् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; धातु: युज् (to join)

• प्रथमम्: first
• प्रथमम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverbial accusative), क्रमवाचक

• प्राणः: life-breath / prāṇa
• प्राणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचनम्

• दाहेन: by burning/heat
• दाहेन: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचनम्

• तत्-युतः: endowed with that
• तत्-युतः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + युत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः—तद्-युक्तः/तद्-युतः (endowed with that)

Speaker

Narada (in a technical exposition transmitted within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue framework)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It uses vivid analogy and tattva-language to show how inherent qualities (guṇa/dharma) govern interaction—earth has its defining property, and prāṇa manifests power through an inner ‘fire’ (dāha/tejas), indicating that spiritual practice must understand the correct principle and its function.

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

Indirectly, it supports bhakti by stressing discernment: devotion becomes steady when one understands the body–mind as tattvas (earth, prāṇa, tejas) and offers their functions to the Lord rather than identifying with them.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A technical, vedāṅga-style classification: the verse reads like a mnemonic for mapping principles (tattvas) and their characteristic powers (e.g., dāha/tejas with prāṇa), useful in ritual/disciplinary contexts where correspondences and functions are taught.