Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 155

Pañca-prakṛti-nirūpaṇa and Mantra-vidhi: Rādhā, Mahālakṣmī, Durgā, Sarasvatī, Sāvitrī; plus Sāvitrī-Pañjara

Devanagari script

पठनीयं प्रयत्नेन भुक्तिं मुक्तिं समिच्छता । भूतिदा भुवना वाणी महावसुमती मही ॥ १५५ ॥

Transliteration

paṭhanīyaṃ prayatnena bhuktiṃ muktiṃ samicchatā | bhūtidā bhuvanā vāṇī mahāvasumatī mahī || 155 ||

Translation

جو بھوگ اور موکش دونوں چاہتا ہے، وہ اسے کوشش کے ساتھ پڑھے۔ یہ بھوتی (خوشحالی) دینے والی ہے؛ یہ بھونوں کو تھامنے والی وانی ہے؛ یہ مہاوسومتی دھرتی ماں خود ہے॥۱۵۵॥

Word by Word

• paṭhanīyam: should be recited
• paṭhanīyam: Vidhi (विधि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √paṭh (पठ् धातु) + anīya (अनीय)
• Form: Kṛtya (कृत्य) gerundive/obligative (अनीय-प्रत्ययान्त); Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; 'to be recited'

• prayatnena: with effort
• prayatnena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prayatna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; instrumental of manner

• bhuktim: enjoyment/prosperity
• bhuktim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhukti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (2/द्वितीया), Ekavacana

• muktim: liberation
• muktim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mukti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• samicchatā: by (one) desiring
• samicchatā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam + √iṣ (इष् धातु) / √icch (इच्छ् धातु)
• Form: Vartamāna-kṛdanta (present active participle, शतृ/शानच् sense); Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; agrees with implied 'janena' (by one who desires)

• bhūti-dā: giver of prosperity
• bhūti-dā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhūti (प्रातिपदिक) + dā (दा-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Upapada-tatpuruṣa (उपपद-तत्पुरुष) 'bhūtiṃ dadāti'; Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; epithet

• bhuvanā: Bhuvanā (world-sustainer)
• bhuvanā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhuvana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana (as name/epithet)

• vāṇī: Vāṇī (speech)
• vāṇī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• mahā-vasumatī: the great wealthy one
• mahā-vasumatī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + vasumatī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) 'mahā ca sā vasumatī'; Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• mahī: Earth
• mahī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a Vedanga-oriented context, as preserved in Book 1.3)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It teaches that disciplined sacred recitation (svādhyāya/paṭhana) is a complete means: it yields both bhukti (well-being in life) and mukti (liberation), because sacred speech is portrayed as world-sustaining and intrinsically auspicious.

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

While not naming a deity here, it frames recitation as a wholehearted, effortful practice—an attitude central to bhakti—where reverent engagement with sacred utterance becomes a living spiritual discipline that grants both grace in life and freedom.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes correct and diligent paṭhana (recitation/study), aligning with Vedanga concerns such as Śikṣā (phonetics/intonation) and Vyākaraṇa (linguistic discipline), where effortful accuracy is treated as essential to obtaining results.