Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 97

The Description of the Worship of Rāma and Others

Rāmādi-pūjā-vidhāna

Devanagari script

लक्षत्रयं पुरश्चर्यां पायसैर्हवनं मतम् । ध्यात्वा रामं पीतवर्णं जपेल्लक्षं समाहितः ॥ ९७ ॥

Transliteration

lakṣatrayaṃ puraścaryāṃ pāyasairhavanaṃ matam | dhyātvā rāmaṃ pītavarṇaṃ japellakṣaṃ samāhitaḥ || 97 ||

Translation

Für das Ritual der puraścaraṇa sind drei Lakhs (300.000) Wiederholungen vorgeschrieben, und das Feueropfer (homa) soll mit pāyasa, Milchreis, dargebracht werden. Indem man Rāma von goldener Farbe meditiert, soll man mit gesammeltetem Geist ein Lakh (100.000) Japa vollenden.

Word by Word

• लक्ष-त्रयम्: three lakhs (300,000)
• लक्ष-त्रयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd), एकवचन; Accusative singular; समासः द्विगु (त्रीणि लक्षाणि)

• पुरश्चर्याम्: in the puraścaraṇa (preparatory rite)
• पुरश्चर्याम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरश्चर्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th), एकवचन; Locative singular

• पायसैः: with rice-pudding (payasa)
• पायसैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पायस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd), बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• हवनम्: offering into fire (homa)
• हवनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd), एकवचन; here as predicate-noun (nominative)

• मतम्: is considered/approved
• मतम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत (प्रातिपदिक; √मन्/मन्- ‘to think’ past passive participle used adjectivally)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st), एकवचन; PPP (क्त) used as predicate adjective

• ध्यात्वा: having meditated
• ध्यात्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; having meditated

• रामम्: Rama
• रामम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• पीत-वर्णम्: yellow-complexioned
• पीत-वर्णम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीत (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त) + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd), एकवचन; Accusative singular; समासः कर्मधारय (पीतः वर्णः यस्य/पीतवर्णः) used as adjective of रामम्

• जपेत्: should recite
• जपेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; Parasmaipada

• लक्षम्: one lakh (100,000)
• लक्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd), एकवचन; Accusative singular (count)

• समाहितः: concentrated, composed
• समाहितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समाहित (प्रातिपदिक; √धा with सम्, PPP)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st), एकवचन; PPP used as adjective of implied practitioner

Speaker

Narada (teaching within the Vedanga/ritual-technical context to Sanatkumara lineage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Rama

FAQs

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

It presents a disciplined mantra-sādhana framework—puraścaraṇa with fixed japa counts, homa, and deity-dhyāna—showing that devotion is strengthened through regulated practice and focused meditation on the mantra’s devatā (Rāma).

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

Bhakti here is expressed as concentrated remembrance (dhyāna) of Rāma’s form while performing japa; the ritual elements (homa with pāyasa) support steadiness of mind and deepen devotional absorption.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights applied ritual science—puraścaraṇa methodology, numerical discipline of mantra-japa (lakṣa counts), and homa substance selection (pāyasa)—typical of technical guidance associated with Vedāṅga-aligned practice.