Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 63

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

Devanagari script

वामोरुन्यस्ततद्धस्ता दक्षिणेन धृताभयाः । सोकपालांस्तदस्त्राणि तद्वाह्ये पूजयेत्सुधीः ॥ ६३ ॥

Transliteration

vāmorunyastataddhastā dakṣiṇena dhṛtābhayāḥ | sokapālāṃstadastrāṇi tadvāhye pūjayetsudhīḥ || 63 ||

Translation

Die entsprechende Hand lege man auf den linken Schenkel, und die rechte halte man in der Geste der Furchtlosigkeit (abhaya-mudrā). Der Weise soll die Hüter der Himmelsrichtungen (lokapālas) verehren, samt ihren Gefäßen (pātra) und Waffen, ebenso das Reittier/Trägerwesen (vāhana) der Gottheit.

Word by Word

• वाम-ऊरु-न्यस्त-तत्-हस्ताः: (those) whose hands are placed on the left thigh
• वाम-ऊरु-न्यस्त-तत्-हस्ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाम (प्रातिपदिक) + ऊरु (प्रातिपदिक) + न्यस्त (√न्यस्/न्यास् धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय) + तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘येषां हस्ताः वामोरौ न्यस्ताः (तत्=तस्य/तद्-देवतायाः)’

• दक्षिणेन: with the right (hand)
• दक्षिणेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण-प्रयोगः (instrumental)

• धृत-अभयाः: holding the gesture of fearlessness
• धृत-अभयाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धृत (√धृ धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय) + अभय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-भावः—‘अभयं धृतं येषां’

• स-उकपालान्: the (associated) guardians/attendants (ukapālas)
• स-उकपालान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/अव्यय-प्राय) + उकपाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; ‘सहितान् उकपालान्’ (स-पूर्वक-समास/तत्पुरुष-भाव)

• तत्-अस्त्राणि: his/her weapons
• तत्-अस्त्राणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘तस्य (देवतायाः) अस्त्राणि’

• तत्-वाह्ये: on/at his mount (vehicle)
• तत्-वाह्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + वाह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण—‘तस्य वाहन-स्थाने/वाह्ये’

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• सुधीः: the wise person
• सुधीः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु-धी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘सु (उत्तमा) धीः यस्य’ = ‘सुधी’

Speaker

Narada (teaching ritual/technical procedure in the Vedanga-oriented section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Lokapalas
• Astra (divine weapons)
• Vahana (mount)

FAQs

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

It teaches that complete worship includes not only the main deity but also the surrounding cosmic order—directional guardians (lokapālas), their powers (weapons), and the vāhana—so the sādhaka aligns the ritual with universal protection and stability.

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

Bhakti is expressed here as attentive, reverent completeness in pūjā—honoring the deity’s attendants and symbols with proper gestures (like abhaya-mudrā), showing disciplined devotion rather than casual worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects kalpa-style ritual methodology: prescribed bodily placement (hand on thigh), use of mudrā (abhaya), and sequential honoring of subsidiary deities and implements—core practical know-how for correct liturgical performance.