Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 3

Bhuvaneśī (Nidrā-Śakti) Mantra-vidhi, Nyāsa–Āvaraṇa Worship, Padma-homa Prayogas, and the Opening of Śrī-Mahālakṣmī Upāsanā

Devanagari script

जानुमात्रे स्थितौ दृष्ट्वा ब्रह्मणं कमलस्थितम् । प्रवृत्तावत्तुमालक्ष्य तुष्टाव जगदंबिकाम् ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

jānumātre sthitau dṛṣṭvā brahmaṇaṃ kamalasthitam | pravṛttāvattumālakṣya tuṣṭāva jagadaṃbikām || 3 ||

Translation

کمل پر بیٹھے برہما کو دیکھ کر، اور یہ جان کر کہ وہ (دونوں) گھٹنے بھر پانی میں کھڑے ہو کر اسے نگلنے پر تُلے ہیں، اس نے جگدمبیکا—جگت ماتا—کی ستوتی کی ॥ ۳ ॥

Word by Word

• jānu-mātre: up to the knee (in depth/level)
• jānu-mātre: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jānu (प्रातिपदिक) + mātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; परिमाणवाचक—‘जानोः मात्रे’ (up to the knee)

• sthitau: standing
• sthitau: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sthita (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √sthā)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past participle); विशेषणम्—(मधुकैटभौ)

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriya (क्रिया—पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal); पूर्वक्रिया

• brahmaṇam: Brahmā
• brahmaṇam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• kamala-sthitam: seated in the lotus
• kamala-sthitam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kamala (प्रातिपदिक) + sthita (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √sthā)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त; विशेषणम्—‘brahmaṇam’; ‘कमले स्थितः’

• pravṛttau: having set about (engaged)
• pravṛttau: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pravṛtta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √vṛt with pra-)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; भूतकृदन्त; विशेषणम्—(तौ)

• attum: to eat
• attum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ad (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), अव्ययभाव; प्रयोजन/इच्छार्थ (to eat)

• ālakṣya: having noticed
• ālakṣya: Kriya (क्रिया—पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: lakṣ (धातु) with ā- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त-समकक्ष (gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘आ-लक्ष्य’ = having noticed

• tuṣṭāva: praised
• tuṣṭāva: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: stu (धातु) with tus-/tuṣṭāva as perfect stem
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• jagat-ambikām: the Mother of the world
• jagat-ambikām: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक) + ambikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; ‘जगतः अम्बिका’

Speaker

Narada (narrating within the Narada Purana dialogue tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Jagadambika

FAQs

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

It frames a moment of cosmic crisis or transition—Brahmā’s action is observed, and the immediate refuge is taken in praise of Jagadambikā, highlighting stuti (devotional eulogy) as a direct spiritual response.

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

Bhakti is shown as prompt remembrance and praise of the Divine (here, the World-Mother) when witnessing unsettling or extraordinary events; devotion becomes the stabilizing, protective act.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

While not a technical Vedanga instruction, it reflects the Purāṇic application of mantra/stuti practice—structured praise used as a ritual-devotional tool, aligning with the broader liturgical use of chandas and proper recitation.