Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 46

The Description of the Worship of Rāma and Others

Rāmādi-pūjā-vidhāna

Devanagari script

त्रिलोहवेष्टितं कृत्वा धारयेत्साधकोत्तमः । बीजं रामाय ठद्वंद्वं मन्त्रोऽयं रसवर्णकः ॥ ४६ ॥

Transliteration

trilohaveṣṭitaṃ kṛtvā dhārayetsādhakottamaḥ | bījaṃ rāmāya ṭhadvaṃdvaṃ mantro'yaṃ rasavarṇakaḥ || 46 ||

Translation

Nachdem man es mit drei Metallen umhüllt hat, soll der vorzüglichste Sādhaka es tragen. Die Bīja-Silbe ist „rāmāya“; und das Silbenpaar „ṭha“ ist vorgeschrieben — dieses Mantra heißt „rasavarṇaka“, aus verschlüsselten technischen Silben gebildet.

Word by Word

• त्रि-लोह-वेष्टितम्: wrapped/covered with three metals
• त्रि-लोह-वेष्टितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + लोह (प्रातिपदिक) + वेष्टित (कृदन्त, √वेष्ट् धातु)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); past passive participle (क्त) used adjectivally; compound: त्रिभिः लोहेन वेष्टितम् (wrapped with three metals)

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय, अव्ययभाव), expressing prior action: 'having done/made'

• धारयेत्: should hold/wear
• धारयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √धृ (धातु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• साधक-उत्तमः: the best practitioner
• साधक-उत्तमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधक (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय: उत्तमः साधकः (the best practitioner)

• बीजम्: seed-syllable (bīja)
• बीजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बीज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• रामाय: for Rāma
• रामाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• ठ-द्वन्द्वम्: the pair (repetition) of “ṭha”
• ठ-द्वन्द्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ठ (वर्ण/प्रातिपदिक) + द्वन्द्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: ठस्य द्वन्द्वम् = 'pair/repetition of ṭha' (mantric instruction)

• मन्त्रः: the mantra
• मन्त्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); pronoun (सर्वनाम)

• रस-वर्णकः: denoting “rasa” (the syllable/letter ‘ra’)
• रस-वर्णकः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रस (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्णक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: रसस्य वर्णकः (that which indicates/denotes 'rasa')

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical/ritual-vidya context within Book 1.3)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Rama

FAQs

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

It teaches a practical method of mantra-dhāraṇā: the mantra is not only recited but also ritually “held” by wearing it, emphasizing steadiness of devotion and protection through disciplined practice.

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

By centering the bīja on “rāmāya,” it links technical ritual practice to a devotional focus on Rāma (a form of Viṣṇu), showing that correct method (vidhi) supports sustained bhakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects applied mantra-śāstra and coded syllabic technique (rasavarṇaka), along with ritual procedure for talismanic wearing—typical of the technical sciences discussed in Book 1.3.