Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 77

Devapūjā-krama: Ārghya-saṃskāra, Maṇḍala–Nyāsa, Mudrā-pradarśana, Āvaraṇa-arcana, Homa, Japa, and Kṣamāpaṇa

Devanagari script

केशरेष्वग्निकोणादि हृदयादीनि पूजयेत् । नेत्रमग्रे दिक्षु चास्त्रं अंगमंत्रैर्यथाक्रमम् ॥ ७७ ॥

Transliteration

keśareṣvagnikoṇādi hṛdayādīni pūjayet | netramagre dikṣu cāstraṃ aṃgamaṃtrairyathākramam || 77 ||

Translation

على بتلات اللوتس يُعبَدُ الآلهة ابتداءً من ركن أغني، وتُكرَّمُ مانترات الأَنْغا الستّ ابتداءً من مانترا القلب. وأمامًا تُقامُ مانترا العين، وفي الجهات تُقامُ مانترا الأسترا (مانترا السلاح)، على الترتيب مع مانترات الأَنْغا.

Word by Word

• keśareṣu: in the petals
• keśareṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: keśara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka-liṅga (neuter), Saptamī-vibhakti (7th/सप्तमी), Bahuvacana (plural); Adhikaraṇa (locative)

• agni-koṇa-ādi: (starting) from the fire-corner etc.
• agni-koṇa-ādi: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक) + koṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभावार्थ)
• Form: Avyaya-samāsa-like determinative usage; indeclinable in sense as a compound qualifier; used as upapada/viśeṣaṇa to indicate ‘starting from the fire-corner etc.’

• hṛdaya-ādīni: the heart (and other parts)
• hṛdaya-ādīni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hṛdaya (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka-liṅga (neuter), Dvitīyā-vibhakti (2nd/द्वितीया), Bahuvacana (plural); ‘ādi’ as suffix meaning ‘and others’

• pūjayet: should worship
• pūjayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pūj (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (optative/विधिलिङ्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana (singular), Parasmaipada

• netram: the eye
• netram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: netra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka-liṅga (neuter), Dvitīyā-vibhakti (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (singular)

• agre: in front / at the fore
• agre: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: agra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable adverb/क्रियाविशेषण) meaning ‘in front/at the beginning’

• dikṣu: in the directions
• dikṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: diś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strī-liṅga (feminine), Saptamī-vibhakti (7th/सप्तमी), Bahuvacana (plural)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; samuccaya (conjunction/समुच्चय)

• astram: the weapon-mantra (astra)
• astram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: astra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka-liṅga (neuter), Dvitīyā-vibhakti (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (singular)

• aṅga-mantraiḥ: with the limb-mantras
• aṅga-mantraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃ-liṅga (masculine), Tṛtīyā-vibhakti (3rd/तृतीया), Bahuvacana (plural); karaṇa-instrumental

• yathā-kramam: in proper sequence
• yathā-kramam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + krama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva-samāsa; avyaya functioning as adverb meaning ‘in due order’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada the technical procedure of mantra-pūjā/nyāsa)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Agni

FAQs

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

It teaches ordered mantra-worship (aṅga-mantras, netra, and astra) as a way to sanctify the worship-space and establish inner and outer protection before deeper devotion and meditation.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as disciplined upacāra—serving the deity through correct mantra-krama, placing heart and other limb-mantras first, then invoking vision (netra) and protection (astra) to keep the worship focused and pure.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual-technical knowledge: directional placement (dik/koṇa), sequential mantra application (yathākramam), and nyāsa-style use of aṅga, netra, and astra mantras—typical of mantra-śāstra and kalpa-oriented practice.