Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 94

The Description of the Worship of Rāma and Others

Rāmādi-pūjā-vidhāna

Devanagari script

बीजत्रयाद्यैः कुर्वीत पदैः सर्वेण मंत्रवित् । पंचांगानि च विन्यस्य मंत्रवर्णान्क्रमान्न्यसेत् ॥ ९४ ॥

Transliteration

bījatrayādyaiḥ kurvīta padaiḥ sarveṇa maṃtravit | paṃcāṃgāni ca vinyasya maṃtravarṇānkramānnyaset || 94 ||

Translation

Ein Kenner des Mantras soll das Ritual mit den Worten vollziehen, die mit den drei bīja beginnen. Nachdem er zuerst die fünf Glieder des nyāsa (pañcāṅga) angeordnet hat, setze er dann die Silben des Mantras der Reihe nach ein.

Word by Word

• बीज-त्रय-आद्यैः: with (those) beginning with the three seed-syllables
• बीज-त्रय-आद्यैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बीज (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः—‘बीजानां त्रयम्’ (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) + ‘आदि’ (beginning with) → ‘बीजत्रयाद्य’ = “beginning with the three seeds”; instrumental plural: “with (words) beginning with…”

• कुर्वीत: should perform/compose
• कुर्वीत: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• पदैः: with words/phrases
• पदैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• सर्वेण: with the whole (set)
• सर्वेण: विशेषण (Adjectival to मन्त्रेण/पदैः implied)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (entire/whole)

• मन्त्र-वित्: the knower of the mantra
• मन्त्र-वित्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + विद् (धातु; ‘to know’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः/बहुव्रीहिसदृशः—‘मन्त्रं वेत्ति’ = mantra-knower

• पञ्च-अङ्गानि: the five parts (aṅgas)
• पञ्च-अङ्गानि: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समासः—‘पञ्च अङ्गानि’ = five limbs/parts

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• वि-न्यस्य: having arranged/placed
• वि-न्यस्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Absolutive; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + नि + अस्/न्यस् (धातु; ‘to place’)
• Form: कृदन्त (ल्यप्/absolutive), अव्ययभावः; “having placed/after placing”

• मन्त्र-वर्णान्: the mantra’s syllables/letters
• मन्त्र-वर्णान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘मन्त्रस्य वर्णाः’

• क्रमात्: in sequence
• क्रमात्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययप्राय (तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त), पञ्चमी-अर्थे अव्ययम्; क्रियाविशेषणम्—“in order/stepwise”

• न्यसेत्: should place/assign
• न्यसेत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + अस्/न्यस् (धातु; ‘to place’)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It emphasizes mantra-śuddhi (ritual and sonic purity): the mantra becomes spiritually effective when its seed-syllables, limbs of nyāsa, and phonemes are installed in the correct order.

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

It frames devotion as disciplined worship: bhakti is expressed through careful, knowledgeable performance of mantra and nyāsa, aligning body, speech, and mind with the deity through ordered recitation and placement.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights technical ritual science tied to śikṣā (phonetics) and mantra-viniyoga: correct varṇa (syllable) sequencing and structured nyāsa (pañcāṅga) as a practical procedure in worship.