Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 120

Devapūjā-krama: Ārghya-saṃskāra, Maṇḍala–Nyāsa, Mudrā-pradarśana, Āvaraṇa-arcana, Homa, Japa, and Kṣamāpaṇa

Devanagari script

सुषुम्णावर्त्मना पुष्पमाघ्रायोद्वासयेद् बुधः । शंखचक्रशिलालिंगविघ्नसूर्यद्वयं तथा ॥ १२० ॥

Transliteration

suṣumṇāvartmanā puṣpamāghrāyodvāsayed budhaḥ | śaṃkhacakraśilāliṃgavighnasūryadvayaṃ tathā || 120 ||

Translation

Nachdem er den Duft einer Blume durch den suṣumṇā-Kanal eingeatmet hat, soll der Weise sanft ausatmen. Ebenso soll er betrachten: die Muschel (śaṅkha), den Diskus (cakra), den heiligen Stein (śilā), den Liṅga, den Beseitiger der Hindernisse (Vighna/Gaṇeśa) und das Paar der Sonnen.

Word by Word

• सुषुम्णा-वर्त्मना: by the suṣumṇā path
• सुषुम्णा-वर्त्मना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुषुम्णा + वर्त्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (वर्त्मन्), तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental Singular; ‘by the path of suṣumṇā’

• पुष्पम्: the flower
• पुष्पम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• आघ्राय: having smelled
• आघ्राय: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√घ्रा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund); ‘having smelled’

• उद्वासयेत्: should expel/remove
• उद्वासयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-√वास् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; Optative, 3rd person singular; causative sense ‘should cause to be removed/expelled’

• बुधः: the wise person
• बुधः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शंख-चक्र-शिला-लिङ्ग-विघ्न-सूर्य-द्वयम्: the pair/set (of symbols) such as conch, discus, stone-linga, Vighna, and Sun
• शंख-चक्र-शिला-लिङ्ग-विघ्न-सूर्य-द्वयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंख + चक्र + शिला + लिङ्ग + विघ्न + सूर्य + द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative, Singular; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective copulative) indicating a set of two (dvaya) including conch, discus, stone-linga, Vighna(=Gaṇeśa), and Sun (textual grouping interpretive)

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/रीति-अव्यय (also/likewise)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a technical/ritual-yogic register)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Suṣumṇā (nāḍī)
• Śaṅkha
• Cakra
• Śilā (Śālagrāma concept)
• Liṅga
• Vighna (Gaṇeśa concept)
• Sūrya

FAQs

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

It links inner yogic practice (directing breath through the suṣumṇā) with outer sacred symbols, teaching that disciplined prāṇa and focused contemplation together stabilize worship and concentration.

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

By naming devotional emblems—especially śaṅkha and cakra associated with Viṣṇu—it frames breath-control and mental recollection as supports for steady upāsanā, making devotion more one-pointed and embodied.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A technical procedure combining regulated inhalation/exhalation with dhyāna on specific ritual icons—typical of the Narada Purana’s Book 1.3 emphasis on applied disciplines and methodical practice.