Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 40

The Description of the Worship of Rāma and Others

Rāmādi-pūjā-vidhāna

Devanagari script

पुष्यद्वयं तथादित्यार्द्रामघासु यथाक्रमम् । दूर्वोत्था लेखनी वश्ये तथाकृष्टौ करंजजा ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

puṣyadvayaṃ tathādityārdrāmaghāsu yathākramam | dūrvotthā lekhanī vaśye tathākṛṣṭau karaṃjajā || 40 ||

Translation

In den beiden Puṣya und ebenso, der Reihe nach, in Ādityā, Ārdrā und Maghā: Für den vaśya-Ritus (Unterwerfung) ist ein Schreibstift aus dūrvā-Gras vorgeschrieben; für den ākṛṣṭi-Ritus (Anziehung) hingegen ein Schreibstift aus karañja-Holz.

Word by Word

• पुष्यद्वयम्: the two (times of) Puṣya
• पुष्यद्वयम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्यद्वय (प्रातिपदिक: पुष्य + द्वय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; nominative/accusative singular; ‘the two Puṣya (days/occasions)’

• तथा: also
• तथा: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अनुक्रम (adverb) ‘also/likewise’

• आदित्य: Āditya
• आदित्य: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक (compound member); ‘Āditya’ (nakṣatra)

• आर्द्रा: Ārdrā
• आर्द्रा: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आर्द्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक (compound member); ‘Ārdrā’ (nakṣatra)

• मघासु: in Maghā (and related times)
• मघासु: कालाधिकरण (Kālādhikaraṇa/Temporal locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मघा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन; locative plural; with compound sense ‘in (the times of) Maghā etc.’

• यथाक्रमम्: in order
• यथाक्रमम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyāviśeṣaṇa/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा-क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय; ‘in due order/according to sequence’

• दूर्वोत्था: made from dūrvā grass
• दूर्वोत्था: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दूर्वोत्थ (प्रातिपदिक: दूर्वा + उत्थ)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; nominative singular; कृदन्त (क्त/उत्थ) ‘arisen from dūrvā grass’

• लेखनी: the writing stylus/pen
• लेखनी: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लेखनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; nominative singular

• वश्ये: in the subjugation rite
• वश्ये: विषयाधिकरण (Viṣayādhikaraṇa/Context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; locative singular; ‘in (rite of) subjugation’

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; ‘likewise’

• आकृष्टौ: in the attraction rite
• आकृष्टौ: विषयाधिकरण (Viṣayādhikaraṇa/Context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकृष्ट (प्रातिपदिक; from आ + कृष्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन (Vedic/variant locative in -au) or द्विवचन (locative dual) by form; intended sense: locative ‘in attraction (rite)’

• करंजजा: made from karanja (wood)
• करंजजा: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: करञ्जज (प्रातिपदिक: करञ्ज + ज)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; nominative singular; कृदन्त ‘born from karanja (wood)’ qualifying लेखनी (understood)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada on Vedāṅga-linked ritual/astral procedures)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Puṣya
• Ādityā
• Ārdrā
• Maghā
• Dūrvā
• Karañja

FAQs

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

It shows the Purāṇa’s Vedāṅga-oriented method: ritual acts are aligned with nakṣatra timing and specific materials, emphasizing disciplined procedure (vidhi) rather than random practice.

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

Indirectly: it situates technical rites under scriptural regulation; in the Narada Purana framework, such regulated action is meant to be subordinate to dharma and ultimately to devotion-centered living, not mere personal power.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa (astral timing): selecting specific nakṣatras and prescribing appropriate ritual implements (lekhanī) for distinct karmas like vaśya and ākṛṣṭi.