Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 121

The Description of the Worship of Rāma and Others

Rāmādi-pūjā-vidhāna

Devanagari script

श्रीरामो भुवनाबीजं स्वाहाशक्तिः समीरितः । चंद्रैकमुनिभूनेत्रैर्मंत्रार्णैरंगकल्पनम् ॥ १२१ ॥

Transliteration

śrīrāmo bhuvanābījaṃ svāhāśaktiḥ samīritaḥ | caṃdraikamunibhūnetrairmaṃtrārṇairaṃgakalpanam || 121 ||

Translation

يُعلَن «شري راما» بِيجةً (بذرةً) للعوالم، وتُذكَر «سْفَاهَا» على أنها شاكتيه (قوته). وبحروف المانترا التي يدلّ عليها الرمز العددي «قمر–واحد–حكيم–أرض–عيون» تُجرى إقامة الأعضاء (أَنْغا-كَلْپَنا/نياسا).

Word by Word

• श्रीरामः: Śrī Rāma
• श्रीरामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीराम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—श्री + राम (कर्मधारय)

• भुवनाबीजम्: the seed of the worlds
• भुवनाबीजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुवन + बीज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—भुवनस्य बीजम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• स्वाहा-शक्तिः: the Svāhā-power (śakti)
• स्वाहा-शक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वाहा + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—स्वाहायाः शक्ति (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• समीरितः: is uttered/declared
• समीरितः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + ईर् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थः ‘उच्चारितः/प्रोक्तः’

• चन्द्र-एक-मुनि-भू-नेत्रैः: by the (12) syllables indicated by ‘moon-one-sage-earth-eye’
• चन्द्र-एक-मुनि-भू-नेत्रैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्र + एक + मुनि + भू + नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (अक्षर/वर्ण-गणनासूचक), तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः—चन्द्र(1)+एक(1)+मुनि(7)+भू(1)+नेत्र(2)=12 (द्विगु-समास, संख्यावाचक)

• मन्त्र-अर्णैः: with mantra-syllables
• मन्त्र-अर्णैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र + अर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः—मन्त्रस्य अर्णानि (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); अर्ण = अक्षर/वर्ण

• अङ्ग-कल्पनम्: the arrangement of the limbs (aṅga-nyāsa)
• अङ्ग-कल्पनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्ग + कल्पन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—अङ्गानां कल्पनम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Sri Rama
• Svaha

FAQs

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

It frames the Śrī Rāma-mantra as a cosmic seed (bīja) empowered by śakti, and teaches that proper inner installation (nyāsa/aṅga-kalpanā) is part of making the mantra spiritually effective.

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

By treating the divine name ‘Śrī Rāma’ as a living, empowered mantra to be reverently installed in one’s body and awareness, it presents bhakti as disciplined mantra-upāsanā rather than mere sentiment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects technical mantra-śāstra usage—coding/indicating mantra-syllables via numeric epithets and applying them in ritual nyāsa (a structured procedure aligned with śikṣā-style precision in sound and application).