Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 74

The Description of the Worship of Rāma and Others

Rāmādi-pūjā-vidhāna

Devanagari script

आद्यं बीजं द्विठः शक्तिबींजेनांगानि कल्पयेत् । वर्णन्यासं तथा ध्यानं पुरश्चर्यार्चनादिकमन् ॥ ७४ ॥

Transliteration

ādyaṃ bījaṃ dviṭhaḥ śaktibīṃjenāṃgāni kalpayet | varṇanyāsaṃ tathā dhyānaṃ puraścaryārcanādikaman || 74 ||

Translation

Mit der ursprünglichen Bīja-Mantra und der zweifachen Anordnung soll man die Hilfsglieder (aṅga) mit der Bīja der Śakti gestalten. Danach vollziehe man Varṇa-Nyāsa, Meditation sowie die Übungen, beginnend mit Puraścaraṇa und ritueller Verehrung (Arcana) und weiteren Handlungen.

Word by Word

• आद्यम्: first/primary
• आद्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• बीजम्: seed-syllable (bīja)
• बीजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बीज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• द्विठः: dviṭha (a mantric/phonetic designation)
• द्विठः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + ठ (वर्ण/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु/वर्णनिर्देश (two-‘ṭha’/the syllable ‘ṭha’ as second?) पाठदोष/दुर्लभ-रूप सम्भाव्य

• शक्ति-बीजेन: with the śakti-bīja
• शक्ति-बीजेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + बीज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (śakteḥ bījam)

• अङ्गानि: limbs/parts (mantra-angas)
• अङ्गानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• कल्पयेत्: should arrange/construct
• कल्पयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कॢप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वर्ण-न्यासम्: letter-nyāsa (placement of syllables)
• वर्ण-न्यासम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + न्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (placing of letters)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक (likewise/also)

• ध्यानम्: meditation
• ध्यानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पुरश्चर्या-अर्चन-आदिकम्: puraścaryā, worship, and the like
• पुरश्चर्या-अर्चन-आदिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरश्चर्या (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्चन (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः (puraścaryā, worship, etc. as a set)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Shakti

FAQs

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

It outlines a complete mantra-sādhana framework: the seed-mantra is not used in isolation, but is empowered through Śakti-bīja, structured aṅgas, internalization via nyāsa and dhyāna, and maturity through puraścaraṇa and arcana.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as disciplined worship: meditation on the deity, reverent installation (nyāsa), and sustained devotional practice (puraścaraṇa and arcana) that makes mantra-recitation a lived act of devotion rather than mere sound.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights applied ritual-technology—mantra construction (aṅga-kalpanā), phonetic/letter practice (varṇa-nyāsa, aligned with Śikṣā), and procedural vrata-like discipline (puraścaraṇa) used to systematize worship.