Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 131

Hanumān-mantra-kathana: Mantra-bheda, Nyāsa, Yantra, and Prayoga

Devanagari script

ताम्रपात्रे ततः पद्ममष्टपत्रं सकेशरम् । कुचंदनेन घृष्टेन संलिखेत्तच्छलाकया ॥ १३१ ॥

Transliteration

tāmrapātre tataḥ padmamaṣṭapatraṃ sakeśaram | kucaṃdanena ghṛṣṭena saṃlikhettacchalākayā || 131 ||

Translation

Dann zeichne man auf einer Kupferplatte einen achtblättrigen Lotus samt vollständig ausgeprägtem Inneren, mit einem Griffel, der mit geriebenem weißem Sandelholz bestrichen ist.

Word by Word

• ताम्र-पात्रे: in/on a copper vessel
• ताम्र-पात्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताम्र (प्रातिपदिक) + पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (copper + vessel); अधिकरणम्

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रमवाचक-अव्यय (sequencing adverb)

• पद्मम्: a lotus
• पद्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

• अष्ट-पत्रम्: eight-petaled
• अष्ट-पत्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + पत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (eight-petaled); विशेषणम् (पद्मम् qualifies)

• स-केशरम्: with stamens
• स-केशरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय) + केशर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; अव्ययीभावः (with stamens); विशेषणम्

• कु-चन्दनेन: with ku-candana (a kind of sandal/pigment)
• कु-चन्दनेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुचन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करणम्

• घृष्टेन: ground/rubbed (into paste)
• घृष्टेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: घृष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (कुचन्दनेन qualifies: ‘ground/rubbed’)

• संलिखेत्: should draw/inscribe
• संलिखेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-लिख् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• तत्-शलाकया: with that stylus/rod
• तत्-शलाकया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + शलाका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (with that stylus/rod); करणम्

Speaker

Narada (instructing within a technical/ritual context, traditionally in dialogue with Sanatkumara lineage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It prescribes a precise ritual act—inscribing an eight-petalled lotus—used as a sacred support for worship (upāsanā), emphasizing purity of materials and exact form in devotional rites.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through careful, reverent preparation of a worship-base (like a lotus diagram) that focuses the mind and sanctifies the act of offering, turning technique into devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights procedural ritual know-how—selection of medium (copper plate), prescribed iconography (aṣṭapatra padma), and method of inscription—typical of technical disciplines associated with Kalpa-style ritual practice.