Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 16

The Description of the Worship of Rāma and Others

Rāmādi-pūjā-vidhāna

Devanagari script

केशरेषु षडंगानि पत्रेष्वेतान्समर्चयेत् । हनुमंतं च सुग्रीवं भरतं सबिभीषणम् ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

keśareṣu ṣaḍaṃgāni patreṣvetānsamarcayet | hanumaṃtaṃ ca sugrīvaṃ bharataṃ sabibhīṣaṇam || 16 ||

Translation

على خيوط زهرة اللوتس يُعبَدُ الأعضاءُ الستةُ المُعينة (ṣaḍaṅga)، وعلى البتلات تُقام العبادةُ على الوجه اللائق لهؤلاء: هانومان، وسُغريفا، وبَهَرَتا، وبيبيشَنا.

Word by Word

• keśareṣu: in the filaments (of the flower)
• keśareṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: keśara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ṣaṭ-aṃgāni: the six limbs (six parts)
• ṣaṭ-aṃgāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṣaṭ (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + aṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), बहुवचन (Plural)

• patreṣu: in the petals/leaves
• patreṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: patra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• etān: these
• etān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• samarcayet: should worship
• samarcayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-arc (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• hanumantam: Hanumān
• hanumantam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hanumat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

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

• sugrīvam: Sugrīva
• sugrīvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sugrīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• bharatam: Bharata
• bharatam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bharata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• sa-bibhīṣaṇam: together with Vibhīṣaṇa
• sa-bibhīṣaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थ ‘सहित’) + bibhīṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); ‘सहित’ अर्थे (with)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Hanuman
• Sugriva
• Bharata
• Bibhishana

FAQs

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

It encodes a structured worship-map: the inner, subtle supports of mantra (ṣaḍaṅga) are honored in the ‘core’ (filaments), while devoted exemplars allied to Śrī Rāma—Hanumān, Sugrīva, Bharata, and Bibhīṣaṇa—are placed on the ‘outer’ petals, modeling ordered devotion and protection around the deity.

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

Bhakti is shown as both heartfelt and disciplined: devotion is expressed by honoring ideal devotees and allies of dharma (Hanumān, etc.), while also maintaining mantra-precision (ṣaḍaṅga) so worship is reverent, complete, and tradition-aligned.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual-technical knowledge is implied—especially mantra-prayoga and nyāsa-style placement (a Śikṣā/kalpa-adjacent practice): assigning specific components of worship to specific parts of the flower (keśara vs. patra) for a precise archana sequence.