Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 115

The Exposition of the Krishna Mantra (Kṛṣṇa-mantra-prakāśa): Nyāsa, Dhyāna, Worship, Yantra, and Prayoga

Devanagari script

यजेत्केशवकीर्त्यादिमिथुनानि च षोडश । इन्द्राद्यानपि वज्रादीन्पूजयेत्तदनन्तरम् ॥ ११५ ॥

Transliteration

yajetkeśavakīrtyādimithunāni ca ṣoḍaśa | indrādyānapi vajrādīnpūjayettadanantaram || 115 ||

Translation

Man soll die sechzehn göttlichen Paare verehren, beginnend mit Keśava und Kīrti; danach soll man auch Indra und die übrigen Devas verehren, zusammen mit dem Vajra und den übrigen Insignien und Attributen.

Word by Word

• yajet: should worship/sacrifice to
• yajet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yaj (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• keśava-kīrti-ādi-mithunāni: the pairs beginning with Keśava and Kīrti
• keśava-kīrti-ādi-mithunāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: keśava (प्रातिपदिक) + kīrti (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक) + mithuna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन; ‘pairs beginning with Keśava–Kīrti’

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक = and

• ṣoḍaśa: sixteen
• ṣoḍaśa: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṣoḍaśa (संख्याशब्द-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याविशेषणम्; (here) ‘sixteen’ qualifying ‘mithunāni’

• indra-ādyān: Indra and others
• indra-ādyān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indra (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन; ‘Indra and others’

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि = also

• vajra-ādīn: Vajra and others
• vajra-ādīn: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vajra (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन; ‘Vajra and others’ (names/attendants)

• pūjayet: should honor/worship
• pūjayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pūj (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• tad-anantaram: thereafter / immediately after that
• tad-anantaram: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + anantara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव; क्रियाविशेषण = immediately after that

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Keśava (Vishnu)
• Kīrti
• Indra
• Vajra

FAQs

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

It teaches a structured pūjā sequence: honoring Viṣṇu (Keśava) together with auspicious divine powers (like Kīrti) and then respectfully integrating the Vedic devas (Indra, etc.), showing harmony between Vaiṣṇava devotion and broader devatā-veneration.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through disciplined worship: beginning with Keśava-centered devotion and extending reverence to associated divine forces and guardians, indicating that devotion is both heartfelt and procedurally grounded (vidhi-yukta).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (Vedāṅga of ritual procedure): the ordered steps of worship (first the sixteen pairs, then Indra and others, then their emblems like vajra), emphasizing correct sequencing in pūjā.