Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 6

The Exposition of the Table of Contents (Anukramaṇī) of the Agni Purāṇa

Devanagari script

शालग्रामादिपूजा च मूर्तिलक्ष्म पृथक्पृथक् । न्यासादीनां विधानं च प्रतिष्ठापूर्तकं ततः ॥ ६ ॥

Transliteration

śālagrāmādipūjā ca mūrtilakṣma pṛthakpṛthak | nyāsādīnāṃ vidhānaṃ ca pratiṣṭhāpūrtakaṃ tataḥ || 6 ||

Translation

Es legt auch die Verehrung des Śālagrāma und anderer heiliger Gestalten dar und beschreibt gesondert die Merkmale der Mūrtis (Kultbilder). Danach schreibt es die Regeln für Nyāsa und verwandte Riten vor, samt den Verfahren der Weihe und Einsetzung (pratiṣṭhā) sowie den Arbeiten des Tempelbaus und der Installation.

Word by Word

• śālagrāma-ādi-pūjā: worship of Śālagrāma and others
• śālagrāma-ādi-pūjā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śālagrāma (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक) + pūjā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (genitive determinative): ‘शालग्रामादीनां पूजा’

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

• mūrti-lakṣma: the characteristics of images (icons)
• mūrti-lakṣma: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrti (प्रातिपदिक) + lakṣma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (determinative): ‘मूर्तेः लक्षणम्/लक्ष्म’

• pṛthak: separately
• pṛthak: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pṛthak (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• pṛthak: each separately
• pṛthak: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pṛthak (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरुक्ति (reduplication) द्वारा विशेष-बल (emphasis); क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय

• nyāsa-ādīnām: of nyāsa and related rites
• nyāsa-ādīnām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nyāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः—तत्पुरुषः: ‘न्यासादयः’

• vidhānam: the procedure; prescription
• vidhānam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nominative/Accusative 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

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

• pratiṣṭhā-pūrtakam: completing (by) consecration
• pratiṣṭhā-pūrtakam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pratiṣṭhā (प्रातिपदिक) + pūrtaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—तत्पुरुषः: ‘प्रतिष्ठया पूर्तकम्’ (that which completes/fulfills by consecration)

• tataḥ: thereafter; then
• tataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), काल/क्रमवाचक (temporal/sequential adverb)

Speaker

Suta (summarizing the Narada Purana’s contents in an anukramaṇikā-style chapter)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Śālagrāma

FAQs

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

This verse highlights that devotion is supported by correct sacred form—worship of Śālagrāma, proper icon characteristics, and sanctified installation—so that the deity is approached with scriptural order and reverence.

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

It frames Bhakti as practiced through concrete ritual disciplines: worship (pūjā), bodily and mantra sanctification (nyāsa), and establishing a stable seat for worship (pratiṣṭhā), all directed toward Viṣṇu-centered devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Primarily ritual procedure and mantra-application (nyāsa), along with technical iconographic and consecration know-how—practical śāstra used to perform worship correctly rather than abstract doctrine.