Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 87

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

Devanagari script

हुत्वा चाष्टत्तरशतं पयोऽनैः सर्पिषाप्लुतैः । स्वस्वदिक्षु बलिं दद्याद्दिशेदाचमनं ततः ॥ ८७ ॥

Transliteration

hutvā cāṣṭattaraśataṃ payo'naiḥ sarpiṣāplutaiḥ | svasvadikṣu baliṃ dadyāddiśedācamanaṃ tataḥ || 87 ||

Translation

Nachdem er hundertacht Feueropfergaben (homa) mit Milch und Speisen dargebracht hat, die mit Ghee übergossen sind, soll er sodann in jeder Himmelsrichtung die bali‑Gaben nach Vorschrift darbringen; danach vollziehe er ācamana, das rituelle Schlucken von Wasser zur Reinigung.

Word by Word

• हुत्वा: having offered (into fire)
• हुत्वा: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकाल

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• अष्टोत्तरशतम्: one hundred and eight
• अष्टोत्तरशतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक) + शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (numeral compound) = 108

• पयः: milk
• पयः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (stem: पयस्; sandhi before vowel)

• अनैः: with cooked rice/food-grains
• अनैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘अन’ = cooked rice/food-grain (contextual)

• सर्पिषा: with ghee
• सर्पिषा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्पिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आप्लुतैः: drenched (in it)
• आप्लुतैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + प्लु (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग तृतीया बहुवचन; विशेषण—‘(अनैः) आप्लुतैः’ = drenched/saturated

• स्वस्वदिक्षु: in each of one’s respective directions
• स्वस्वदिक्षु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (दिश्), सप्तमी विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय—‘स्वा स्वा दिशः’ (in each respective direction)

• बलिम्: offering (bali)
• बलिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• दिशेत्: should offer/assign
• दिशेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दिश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• आचमनम्: sipping water (ācamana)
• आचमनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचमन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb of sequence)

Speaker

Narada (as the transmitter of procedural teaching within the Narada Purana’s technical/ritual section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It emphasizes completing a fire-offering (homa) with the auspicious count of 108 oblations, followed by directional bali offerings and ācamana—showing that inner intent is supported by outer ritual completeness and purification.

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

Though primarily procedural, it supports bhakti by prescribing disciplined offerings and purification acts that cultivate reverence, steadiness, and ritual purity—qualities that sustain devotional worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects ritual prayoga: counted oblations (108), specified substances (milk, food, ghee), directional bali (dik-vidhāna), and purification via ācamana—core elements of kalpa-style procedural knowledge.