Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 91

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

Devanagari script

जुहुयात्सर्पिषा भक्तैस्तिलैर्वा पायसेन वा । सघृतैः साधकश्रेष्टः पञ्चविंशतिसंख्यया ॥ ९१ ॥

Transliteration

juhuyātsarpiṣā bhaktaistilairvā pāyasena vā | saghṛtaiḥ sādhakaśreṣṭaḥ pañcaviṃśatisaṃkhyayā || 91 ||

Translation

Der beste der Übenden soll die Opfergaben darbringen: entweder mit Ghee zusammen mit bhakti-vollen heiligen Gaben, oder mit Sesam, oder mit Milchreis (pāyasa) — alles mit Ghee bereitet — in der Zahl von fünfundzwanzig.

Word by Word

• juhuyāt: should offer into fire
• juhuyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: hu (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• sarpiṣā: with ghee
• sarpiṣā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarpis (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhaktaiḥ: with cooked rice/food-offerings
• bhaktaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tilaiḥ: with sesame seeds
• tilaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Disjunctive particle (विकल्पार्थक निपात)

• pāyasena: with rice-pudding (pāyasa)
• pāyasena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāyasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Disjunctive particle (विकल्पार्थक निपात)

• sa-ghṛtaiḥ: together with ghee
• sa-ghṛtaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa + ghṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); अव्ययीभाव: ‘together with ghee’

• sādhaka-śreṣṭaḥ: the best practitioner
• sādhaka-śreṣṭaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sādhaka + śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: sādhakānāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ (‘best among practitioners’)

• pañca-viṃśati-saṃkhyayā: by the count of twenty-five (times)
• pañca-viṃśati-saṃkhyayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pañca + viṃśati + saṃkhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); द्विगु: ‘having the number twenty-five’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

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 disciplined, rule-based worship through homa: purity of offerings (ghee, sesame, milk-rice) and precision of count (twenty-five) as a means to make the rite effective and spiritually focused.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as devotional service through correctly performed offerings—food and ghee dedicated into the sacred fire—showing devotion as reverent action aligned with scriptural procedure.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual prayoga (procedure) is highlighted: acceptable dravyas (ghee, sesame, pāyasa) and the prescribed saṃkhyā (a fixed count of 25 oblations), reflecting technical injunctions used in śrauta/smārta-style homa practice.