Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 15

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

Devanagari script

सम्पूज्य तेन तत्रार्चेद्द्वादशार्ककलाः क्रमात् । ततः शुद्धजलैर्मूलं विलोममातृकां पठन् ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

sampūjya tena tatrārceddvādaśārkakalāḥ kramāt | tataḥ śuddhajalairmūlaṃ vilomamātṛkāṃ paṭhan || 15 ||

Translation

Nachdem man damit die Verehrung vollendet hat, verehre man dort der Reihe nach die zwölf solaren Kalās. Danach vollziehe man mit gereinigtem Wasser das Mūla (Wurzelmantra/-ritus), während man die Mātṛkā (Alphabet-Mantra) in umgekehrter Reihenfolge rezitiert.

Word by Word

• sampūjya: having duly worshipped
• sampūjya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√pūj (धातु) + ल्यप् (क्त्वा)
• Form: अव्यय-भावे कृदन्त (gerund/absolutive): ‘having worshipped fully’

• tena: by that/with that
• tena: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; ‘by that/with that’

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• arcet: should worship
• arcet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √arc (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• dvādaśa-arka-kalāḥ: the twelve solar kalās
• dvādaśa-arka-kalāḥ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvādaśa + arka + kalā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (plural); तत्पुरुष: ‘अर्कस्य कलाः’ (rays/parts of the sun) qualified by ‘dvādaśa’ (twelve)

• kramāt: in sequence
• kramāt: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: krama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative/5th) एकवचन; adverbial use: ‘in order/ क्रमशः’

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): thereafter

• śuddha-jalaiḥ: with pure waters
• śuddha-jalaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śuddha + jala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘शुद्धं जलम्’ = pure water

• mūlam: the root (mantra)
• mūlam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; here: ‘root-mantra’

• viloma-mātṛkām: the reversed mātṛkā (alphabet-series)
• viloma-mātṛkām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viloma + mātṛkā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘विलोमा’ (in reverse order) + ‘मातृका’ (alphabet/letter-series)

• paṭhan: reciting
• paṭhan: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √paṭh (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present participle), परस्मैपद-कर्तरि, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘reading/reciting’

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical/ritual context, within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue framework)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Surya (Arka)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes disciplined, sequential upāsanā: worship is performed in an ordered manner (kramāt), coupled with purity (śuddha-jala) and precise mantra-technology (mūla and viloma-mātṛkā), indicating that inner and outer purification support effective spiritual practice.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as careful ritual devotion—honoring divine manifestations (the Sun’s twelve kalās) with reverence and method, showing that devotion in the Purāṇic tradition often includes structured worship and attentive mantra-recitation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects technical ritual know-how: sequencing of worship (kalā-krama), use of purified water (ācamanīya/śuddhi), and mantra-recitation methods involving the Mātṛkā (linked to phonetics/Śikṣā and mantra practice), including reverse-order chanting (viloma).