Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 85

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

Devanagari script

योग्यं विप्रं समाहूय कुजमर्चेत्तदाज्ञया । रक्तगोगोमयालिप्तभूमौ रक्तासने विशेत् ॥ ८५ ॥

Transliteration

yogyaṃ vipraṃ samāhūya kujamarcettadājñayā | raktagogomayāliptabhūmau raktāsane viśet || 85 ||

Translation

Nachdem man einen geeigneten Brāhmaṇa herbeigerufen hat, soll man Kuja (Mars) nach seiner Anweisung verehren. Man setze sich auf einen roten Sitz, auf Erde, die mit rotem Kuhdung (von einer rötlichen Kuh) bestrichen wurde.

Word by Word

• योग्यम्: fit/qualified
• योग्यम्: कर्मविशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: योग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (विप्रम्)

• विप्रम्: a Brahmin
• विप्रम्: कर्म (कर्म/Accusative object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• समाहूय: having summoned
• समाहूय: क्रियाविशेषण (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-ह्वा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त; धातुः ह्वा (to call) with उपसर्गाः सम् + आ

• कुजम्: Kuja (Mars)
• कुजम्: कर्म (कर्म/Accusative object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अर्चेत्: should worship
• अर्चेत्: क्रिया (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; धातुः अर्च् (to worship)

• तत्-आज्ञया: by his command
• तत्-आज्ञया: करण/हेतु (Instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (तस्य आज्ञया)

• रक्त-गो-गोमय-आलिप्त-भूमौ: on ground smeared with red cow-dung
• रक्त-गो-गोमय-आलिप्त-भूमौ: अधिकरण (अधिकरणम्/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + गो (प्रातिपदिक) + गोमय (प्रातिपदिक) + आलिप्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (गो-गोमयेन आलिप्ता भूमिः; रक्त- विशेषणम्)

• रक्त-आसने: on a red seat
• रक्त-आसने: अधिकरण (अधिकरणम्/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (रक्तम् आसनम्)

• विशेत्: should sit/enter
• विशेत्: क्रिया (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-शि (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; धातुः शि/विश् (to enter/sit) with उपसर्गः वि

Speaker

Suta (narrating Narada Purana’s ritual/vedanga section; instructions attributed to the tradition of Narada’s teachings)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Kuja/Maṅgala-arcana (navagraha rite)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Kuja
• Vipra

FAQs

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

It emphasizes disciplined, authorized ritual practice: planetary propitiation (graha-śānti) should be done under a competent brāhmaṇa’s guidance, with prescribed purity and color-symbolism (red) appropriate to Kuja (Mars).

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

While primarily a Jyotiṣa-ritual instruction, it frames worship (arcana) as obedient, guided devotion—performing reverence correctly and humbly under learned direction rather than by impulse.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Jyotiṣa (Vedic astrology) and its ritual applications: Kuja/Mangala worship uses specific materials and color-correspondences (red seat, prepared ground) as part of graha-śānti procedure.