Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 118

The Description of the Worship of Rāma and Others

Rāmādi-pūjā-vidhāna

Devanagari script

एवं ध्यात्वा जपेद्वर्णलक्षं त्रिमधुरान्वितैः । बिल्पपत्रैः फलैः पुष्पैस्तिलैर्वा पंकजैर्हुनेत् ॥ ११८ ॥

Transliteration

evaṃ dhyātvā japedvarṇalakṣaṃ trimadhurānvitaiḥ | bilpapatraiḥ phalaiḥ puṣpaistilairvā paṃkajairhunet || 118 ||

Translation

Nachdem man so meditiert hat, soll man Japa im Maß von hunderttausend Silben vollziehen; und mit Opfergaben, begleitet von den „drei Süßen“, soll man Homa (Feueropfer) darbringen mit Bilva-Blättern, Früchten, Blumen, Sesam oder Lotosblüten.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• ध्यात्वा: having meditated
• ध्यात्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव; ‘having meditated’

• जपेत्: should recite
• जपेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वर्ण-लक्षम्: a lakh of syllables/recitations
• वर्ण-लक्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + लक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; परिमाणवाचक (measure)

• त्रि-मधुर-अन्वितैः: with the three sweets (mixed in)
• त्रि-मधुर-अन्वितैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + मधुर (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्वित (कृदन्त; √इ ‘to go/attend’, past passive participle in sense ‘endowed with’)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन; विशेषण (of offerings)

• बिल्व-पत्रैः: with bilva leaves
• बिल्व-पत्रैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बिल्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• फलैः: with fruits
• फलैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• पुष्पैः: with flowers
• पुष्पैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तिलैः: with sesame seeds
• तिलैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-निपात (disjunctive particle)

• पङ्कजैः: with lotuses
• पङ्कजैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पङ्कज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• हुनेत्: should offer (into fire)
• हुनेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हु (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It teaches that meditation (dhyāna), disciplined mantra-recitation to a fixed count (varṇa-lakṣa), and consecrated offerings (homa) together form a complete sādhana—uniting inner contemplation with outward ritual purity.

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

By prescribing sustained japa and devotional offerings, it frames bhakti as steady remembrance of the deity through mantra, supported by simple sacred substances offered with reverence.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects ritual precision (kalpa-style procedure): fixed numerical discipline for japa, and prescribed homa materials (dravyas) and additives like trimadhura—showing technical guidance for correct performance.