Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

अष्टकृत्वो जपेन्मूलं प्रणवं चाष्टधा तथा । शंखाद्दक्षिणदिग्भागे प्रोक्षणीपात्रमादिशेत् ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

aṣṭakṛtvo japenmūlaṃ praṇavaṃ cāṣṭadhā tathā | śaṃkhāddakṣiṇadigbhāge prokṣaṇīpātramādiśet || 22 ||

Translation

Man soll das Wurzelmantra achtmal rezitieren und ebenso achtmal das Praṇava „Oṁ“. Danach stelle man an der Südseite der heiligen Muschel (Śaṅkha) das Sprenggefäß zur rituellen Reinigung, das prokṣaṇī-pātra, auf.

Word by Word

• अष्टकृत्वः: eight times
• अष्टकृत्वः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अष्टकृत्वस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण), द्विगुसमासः (अष्ट + कृत्वस्), अर्थः—अष्टवारम् (eight times)

• जपेत्: should recite
• जपेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; विधिः—"should recite"

• मूलम्: the root (mantra)
• मूलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम्, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (कर्म), एकवचनम्

• प्रणवम्: the praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्रणवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

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

• अष्टधा: eightfold
• अष्टधा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अष्टधा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण), प्रकारवाचकः—अष्टप्रकारेण (in eight ways / eightfold)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb)

• शंखात्: from the conch
• शंखात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, पञ्चमी-विभक्तिः (अपादान), एकवचनम्

• दक्षिण-दिग्-भागे: in the southern-direction part (to the south)
• दक्षिण-दिग्-भागे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक) + दिक् (प्रातिपदिक) + भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमासः (दक्षिणा दिक् यस्य सः/तस्य भागः), पुंलिङ्गम्, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (अधिकरण), एकवचनम्

• प्रोक्षणी-पात्रम्: the sprinkling vessel
• प्रोक्षणी-पात्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रोक्षणी (प्रातिपदिक) + पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमासः (प्रोक्षण्याः पात्रम्), नपुंसकलिङ्गम्, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• आदिशेत्: should prescribe/arrange
• आदिशेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + दिश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; अर्थः—"should prescribe/should place (by instruction)"

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within a technical/ritual teaching sequence)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It emphasizes mantra-discipline and ritual purity: repeating the mūla-mantra and Oṁ in a fixed count sanctifies the practitioner’s intention, and arranging the prokṣaṇī vessel establishes the means for consecratory sprinkling before the rite proceeds.

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

Even in technical ritual contexts, devotion is expressed through attentive japa of sacred sound (Praṇava and mūla-mantra). The verse frames bhakti as disciplined remembrance, where external acts (purification) support inner reverence.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights prayoga-style procedural detail: prescribed japa counts and the directional placement of ritual implements (like the prokṣaṇī-pātra near the śaṅkha), reflecting applied ritual science connected with Vedanga-oriented practice.