Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 59

Nityā-paṭala-prakaraṇa

The Exposition of the Nityā-paṭala

Devanagari script

मातृकासहितां विग्नां त्रिरावृत्त्यामृतात्मिकाम् । ताडीं सारस्वतीं जिह्वां दीपाकारां स्मरन्पिबेत् ॥ ५९ ॥

Transliteration

mātṛkāsahitāṃ vignāṃ trirāvṛttyāmṛtātmikām | tāḍīṃ sārasvatīṃ jihvāṃ dīpākārāṃ smaranpibet || 59 ||

Translation

忆念此舌为辩才天女（Sarasvatī），光明如焰；又为塔ḍī（言语之内在通道）。当饮彼甘露之流：与诸母音力（Mātr̥kā，字母神力）同在，能除障碍；经三次重复而自性成不死甘露。

Word by Word

• मातृका-सहिताम्: accompanied by the मातृकās
• मातृका-सहिताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मातृका + सहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण (fem. acc. sg.)

• विघ्नाम्: (the goddess) Vighnā
• विघ्नाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विघ्ना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (fem. acc. sg.)

• त्रिः-आवृत्ति-अमृत-आत्मिकाम्: whose nature is nectar through triple repetition
• त्रिः-आवृत्ति-अमृत-आत्मिकाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रिः (अव्यय) + आवृत्ति + अमृत + आत्मिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (fem. acc. sg.); समासः—तत्पुरुष (निर्देश/विशेषण-समास)

• ताडीम्: Tāḍī (a śakti/letter-form)
• ताडीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताडी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सारस्वतीम्: Sārasvatī
• सारस्वतीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सारस्वती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• जिह्वाम्: the tongue
• जिह्वाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जिह्वा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दीप-आकाराम्: having the form of a lamp
• दीप-आकाराम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीप + आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः—तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी/उपमानार्थ)

• स्मरन्: remembering
• स्मरन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ-प्रत्यय), प्रथमा, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; क्रियाविशेषण-भावे—‘remembering’

• पिबेत्: should drink
• पिबेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Vedanga/technical-practice section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Sarasvatī
• Mātr̥kā (syllabic deities/phonemes)

FAQs

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

It teaches a subtle mantra-phonetic meditation: by contemplating speech as Sarasvatī and invoking the Mātr̥kā-syllables with thrice-repeated practice, the aspirant internalizes an “amṛta-like” current that removes obstacles and refines consciousness.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as reverent remembrance of divine Śakti in speech—seeing the tongue as Sarasvatī and treating recitation as sacred—so devotion becomes disciplined japa that purifies and makes practice obstacle-free.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Śikṣā (Vedic phonetics) and mantra-prayoga: correct, repeated recitation (tri-āvṛtti) and contemplation of phonemes (mātr̥kā) as living powers, linking sound-discipline to inner yogic experience.