Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 173

Nityā-paṭala-prakaraṇa

The Exposition of the Nityā-paṭala

Devanagari script

मृत्युकाष्ठानले मृत्युपत्रपुष्पफलैरपि । समिद्भिर्जुहुयात्सम्यग्वारे शार्चनपूर्वकम् ॥ १७३ ॥

Transliteration

mṛtyukāṣṭhānale mṛtyupatrapuṣpaphalairapi | samidbhirjuhuyātsamyagvāre śārcanapūrvakam || 173 ||

Translation

في النار الموقدة بخشب «مِرتيو» (الخشب الدافع للموت)، ينبغي أن تُقدَّم القرابين على الوجه الصحيح، مع استعمال الأوراق والزهور والثمار المعيَّنة لطقس «مِرتيو» أيضًا، ومع عيدان الإيقاد. ويُؤدَّى ذلك في اليوم المقرَّر، بعد عبادةٍ وتمجيد (أرشَنا/arcana) يسبقانها.

Word by Word

• मृत्यु-काष्ठ-अनले: in the fire (made) of death-wood
• मृत्यु-काष्ठ-अनले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्यु + काष्ठ + अनल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (मृत्युकाष्ठस्य अनलः = fire of death-wood); पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• मृत्यु-पत्र-पुष्प-फलैः: with the leaves, flowers, and fruits of the mṛtyu-(tree)
• मृत्यु-पत्र-पुष्प-फलैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्यु + पत्र + पुष्प + फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (मृत्युवृक्षस्य पत्र-पुष्प-फलानि = leaves, flowers, fruits of the ‘mṛtyu’ plant/tree); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहार); तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक निपात (also/even)

• समिद्भिः: with fuel-sticks
• समिद्भिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समिध् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन

• जुहुयात्: should offer (into fire)
• जुहुयात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हु (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative); परस्मैपद; प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• सम्यक्: properly
• सम्यक्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) ‘properly’

• वारे: at the (proper) time/occasion
• वारे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘at the time/occasion’

• श-अर्चन-पूर्वकम्: preceded by worship
• श-अर्चन-पूर्वकम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स + अर्चन + पूर्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial) ‘preceded by worship’

Speaker

Narada (teaching within a technical/ritual section addressed to the Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that life-protecting (mṛtyu-śānti) rites are not merely material acts: the efficacy depends on correct vidhi—proper materials, correct timing, and first establishing devotion through arcana (worship).

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

By stating śārcana-pūrvakam, it places worship before the fire-offering—showing that ritual action is meant to be grounded in reverence and devotional orientation, not performed mechanically.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is central: selection of specific samidh and offerings, and performance on the correct vāra (day/weekday), reflecting technical adherence to yajña-vidhi.