Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 28

Nityā-paṭala-prakaraṇa

The Exposition of the Nityā-paṭala

Devanagari script

पूजयेत्प्रोक्तरूपस्तु प्रोक्तरूपाश्च ताः क्रमात् । उपचारैरासवैश्च मत्स्यैर्मांसैस्तु संस्कृतैः ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

pūjayetproktarūpastu proktarūpāśca tāḥ kramāt | upacārairāsavaiśca matsyairmāṃsaistu saṃskṛtaiḥ || 28 ||

Translation

متقمِّصًا الهيئة المقرَّرة، فليعبدهم على الترتيب، بالهيئات التي ذُكرت—مقدِّمًا خدمات العبادة المعتادة (أوباجارا)، ومعها الأشربة المُخمَّرة (آسَفَة)، وكذلك السمك واللحم المُعَدّان.

Word by Word

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• प्रोक्त-रूपः: (he) of the prescribed form
• प्रोक्त-रूपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण—(सः); (प्रोक्तं रूपं यस्य/प्रोक्तरूपः = of the stated form)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वय-अव्यय (but/indeed)

• प्रोक्त-रूपाः: having prescribed forms
• प्रोक्त-रूपाः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण—ताः; (having the prescribed forms)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (and)

• ताः: them (those)
• ताः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन

• क्रमात्: in sequence
• क्रमात्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोग (ablative used adverbially): क्रमात् = in order/stepwise

• उपचारैः: with services/offerings
• उपचारैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; साधन/करण (by means of offerings/services)

• आसवैः: with liquors
• आसवैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आसव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (and)

• मत्स्यैः: with fish
• मत्स्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत्स्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• मांसैः: with meat
• मांसैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मांस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तु: indeed
• तु: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—अन्वय/बलार्थक (indeed)

• संस्कृतैः: prepared/seasoned
• संस्कृतैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृत् (past passive participle, क्त), तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; पुं/नपुंसक-समासानुसार; विशेषण—मत्स्यैः मांसैः (prepared/seasoned)

Speaker

Narada (as narrator/teacher within the instructional passage; traditional dialogue frame with Sanatkumara is implied for this section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that worship becomes effective when performed exactly as prescribed—adopting the stated form and honoring the deities in the correct sequence with the appropriate upacāras and offerings.

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

It presents bhakti as disciplined service: devotion is expressed through orderly, rule-guided worship (kramāt) and attentive offerings, showing reverence through concrete ritual acts.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual praxis is highlighted—knowledge of upacāra (formal services), correct sequencing, and the notion of saṃskṛta offerings (properly prepared/ritually fit), aligning with technical ritual procedure taught alongside Vedāṅga-oriented disciplines.