Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 66

The Narration of the Trayodaśī Vow Observed Throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

नमो नमः कारणकारणाय ते मृत्युंजयायात्मभवस्वरूपिणे । त्रियंबकाय शितिकंठभार्गिणे गौरीयुजे मंगलहेतवे नमः ॥ ६६ ॥

Transliteration

namo namaḥ kāraṇakāraṇāya te mṛtyuṃjayāyātmabhavasvarūpiṇe | triyaṃbakāya śitikaṃṭhabhārgiṇe gaurīyuje maṃgalahetave namaḥ || 66 ||

Translation

آپ کو بار بار سلام—آپ سببوں کے بھی سبب، مُرتیونجَے، آتما سوروپ اور ساری ہستی کے منبع ہیں۔ تریَمبک، نیل کنٹھ، پرشو دھاری، گوری پتی، منگل کے سرچشمہ—آپ کو سلام۔

Word by Word

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधन-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), interjection/obeisance particle (नमस्कारार्थक)

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधन-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), repetition for emphasis

• kāraṇa-kāraṇāya: to the cause of causes
• kāraṇa-kāraṇāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/चतुर्थी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāraṇa + kāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter stem used as substantive; Dative singular (चतुर्थी एकवचन) of compound; ‘cause of (all) causes’ (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• te: to you
• te: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Dative singular (चतुर्थी एकवचन)

• mṛtyuṃ-jayāya: to the conqueror of death
• mṛtyuṃ-jayāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛtyu + jaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine; Dative singular (चतुर्थी एकवचन); ‘conqueror of death’ (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• ātma-bhava-svarūpiṇe: to the one whose nature is self-existent
• ātma-bhava-svarūpiṇe: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman + bhava + svarūpin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine; Dative singular (चतुर्थी एकवचन); ‘whose form is self-existence/own-being’ (तत्पुरुष; internal determinative)

• tri-yaṃbakāya: to the three-eyed one
• tri-yaṃbakāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri + yaṃbaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine; Dative singular (चतुर्थी एकवचन); ‘three-eyed’ (द्विगु/तत्पुरुष usage; traditional epithet)

• śiti-kaṃṭha-bhārgiṇe: to the white-throated bearer
• śiti-kaṃṭha-bhārgiṇe: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiti + kaṃṭha + bhārgin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine; Dative singular (चतुर्थी एकवचन); epithet ‘having a pale/white throat; bearer’ (तत्पुरुष chain)

• gaurī-yuje: to the consort of Gaurī
• gaurī-yuje: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaurī + yuj (प्रातिपदिक from √yuj)
• Form: Masculine; Dative singular (चतुर्थी एकवचन); ‘joined with Gaurī’ (तत्पुरुष)

• maṃgala-hetave: to the cause of auspiciousness
• maṃgala-hetave: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maṃgala + hetu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine; Dative singular (चतुर्थी एकवचन); ‘cause of auspiciousness’ (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधन-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), concluding salutation

Speaker

Narada (stuti/invocation within the narrative frame addressed to Śiva)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

Secondary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Gauri (Parvati)

FAQs

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

It presents Śiva as the ultimate metaphysical ground—“cause of causes”—and as Mṛtyuṃjaya, the Lord who removes fear of death, making devotion (stuti and namaskāra) a direct means to auspiciousness (maṅgala).

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

By repeating “namo namaḥ” and listing divine epithets (Tryambaka, Śitikaṇṭha, Gaurīyukta), the verse models bhakti through reverent remembrance (smaraṇa) and surrender (praṇāma), focusing the mind on the Lord’s protective and liberating power.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse chiefly functions as a mantra-like stuti used in ritual recitation (prayoga). Its practical takeaway aligns with Śikṣā (correct phonetic chanting) and Kalpa (devotional/ritual application of salutations), rather than technical astrology or grammar instruction.