Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 122

Pañca-prakṛti-nirūpaṇa and Mantra-vidhi: Rādhā, Mahālakṣmī, Durgā, Sarasvatī, Sāvitrī; plus Sāvitrī-Pañjara

Devanagari script

पद्नालयां परां शोभां ब्रह्मरूपां ततोऽर्चयेत् । ब्राह्ययाद्याः शारणा बाह्ये पूजयेत्प्रोक्तलक्षणाः ॥ १२२ ॥

Transliteration

padnālayāṃ parāṃ śobhāṃ brahmarūpāṃ tato'rcayet | brāhyayādyāḥ śāraṇā bāhye pūjayetproktalakṣaṇāḥ || 122 ||

Translation

ثم تُعبَدُ بَدْمَالَيا (Padmālayā)، ذاتُ البهاءِ الأسمى، ذاتُ الطبيعةِ البراهمانية (Brahman). وخارجَ الحَرَمِ الرئيس تُقامُ أيضًا عبادةُ آلهةِ شَارَنا (Śāraṇā) ابتداءً من براهيَيا (Brāhyayā)، وفقَ الصفاتِ التي سَبَقَ بيانُها.

Word by Word

• पद्म-आलयाम्: (goddess) dwelling in the lotus
• पद्म-आलयाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक) + आलया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पद्मस्य आलयः/आलया)

• पराम्: supreme
• पराम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन; विशेषण

• शोभाम्: (goddess) Śobhā / splendor
• शोभाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शोभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन

• ब्रह्म-रूपाम्: having the form of Brahman
• ब्रह्म-रूपाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्मणः रूपम्)

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमवाचक (thereafter)

• अर्चयेत्: one should worship
• अर्चयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ब्राह्यया-आद्याः: those beginning with Brāhyayā
• ब्राह्यया-आद्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्यया (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (ब्राह्यया आद्याः = beginning with Brāhyayā)

• शारणा: the Śāraṇās (a group of deities/attendants)
• शारणा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शारणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन

• बाह्ये: outside/external (area)
• बाह्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बाह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोग; देशवाचक-क्रियाविशेषण (externally/outside)

• पूजयेत्: one should honor/worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• प्रोक्त-लक्षणाः: having the characteristics as described
• प्रोक्त-लक्षणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रोक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष (प्रोक्तं लक्षणं येषाम्/याः)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Padmālayā
• Brahman
• Brāhyayā
• Śāraṇā (attendant deities)

FAQs

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

It places the worship of Padmālayā at the center as a manifestation of Brahman-like radiance, while also insisting that protective/attendant deities be honored in their proper outer stations—showing that complete worship includes both the principal deity and the supporting divine order.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as disciplined reverence: devotion is not only emotion but correct, sequential worship—first the supreme, Brahman-natured form (Padmālayā), then the prescribed attendants—so that devotion aligns with śāstra-based procedure.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual application and lakṣaṇa (defining ritual/iconographic features) are emphasized—practical know-how for correctly placing and honoring deities (inner vs. outer worship), reflecting śāstra-guided liturgical method rather than improvisation.