Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 138

Śeṣoditya-Sūrya-nyāsa, Soma-sādhana, Graha-pūjā, and Bhauma-vrata-vidhi

Devanagari script

वामेन शुक्रं व्याख्यानमुद्रादोषं स्मरेत्सुधीः । अयुतं प्रजपेन्मन्त्रं दशांशं जुहुयाद् घृतैः ॥ १३८ ॥

Transliteration

vāmena śukraṃ vyākhyānamudrādoṣaṃ smaretsudhīḥ | ayutaṃ prajapenmantraṃ daśāṃśaṃ juhuyād ghṛtaiḥ || 138 ||

Translation

Der weise Übende soll den Fehler bedenken und berichtigen, der aus einer ungehörigen Erklärungs‑Mudrā entsteht, die mit Śukra verbunden ist, wenn sie mit der linken Hand ausgeführt wird. Zur Sühne soll er das Mantra zehntausendmal japā‑rezitieren und ein Zehntel davon als Ghee‑Opfer in das Feuer darbringen.

Word by Word

• वामेन: with the left (hand/side)
• वामेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया (करण/3rd), एकवचन; adjective used adverbially: "with the left (hand/side)"

• शुक्रम्: semen; (here) śukra
• शुक्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया (कर्म/2nd), एकवचन

• व्याख्यान-मुद्रा-दोषम्: the fault in the explanatory gesture (mudrā)
• व्याख्यान-मुद्रा-दोषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याख्यान (प्रातिपदिक) + मुद्रा (प्रातिपदिक) + दोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया (कर्म/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/सम्बन्ध: "fault of the explanatory hand-gesture"

• स्मरेत्: should remember/recall
• स्मरेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• सुधीः: the wise person
• सुधीः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुधी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (कर्ता/1st), एकवचन

• अयुतम्: ten thousand (times)
• अयुतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अयुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया (कर्म/2nd), एकवचन; संख्या: ten-thousand

• प्रजपेत्: should recite (repeatedly)
• प्रजपेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• मन्त्रम्: the mantra
• मन्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया (कर्म/2nd), एकवचन

• दशांशम्: a tenth part
• दशांशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशांश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया (कर्म/2nd), एकवचन; "one-tenth portion"

• जुहुयात्: should offer into fire
• जुहुयात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हु (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• घृतैः: with ghee
• घृतैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया (करण/3rd), बहुवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada on technical ritual expiations within Vedāṅga-style practice)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Śukra

FAQs

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

It emphasizes ritual integrity: when a technical fault (mudrā-doṣa) occurs, it should be acknowledged and purified through disciplined japa and homa, restoring the sanctity and efficacy of the practice.

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

While primarily technical, the remedy (humble remembrance of error, sustained mantra-japa, and offering into fire) reflects devotional sincerity—correcting oneself and completing worship with care rather than negligence.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Mantra-prayoga and ritual prayāścitta: a prescribed japa count (10,000) and a standard homa proportion (one-tenth oblations) using ghṛta, showing procedural precision typical of Vedāṅga-oriented instruction.