Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 41

Pañca-prakṛti-nirūpaṇa and Mantra-vidhi: Rādhā, Mahālakṣmī, Durgā, Sarasvatī, Sāvitrī; plus Sāvitrī-Pañjara

Devanagari script

आज्याक्तैर्मातृकापीठे पूजा चावरणैः सह । षट्कोणेषु षडंगानि तद्बाह्येऽष्टदले यजेत् ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

ājyāktairmātṛkāpīṭhe pūjā cāvaraṇaiḥ saha | ṣaṭkoṇeṣu ṣaḍaṃgāni tadbāhye'ṣṭadale yajet || 41 ||

Translation

Auf dem mit Ghee bestrichenen Mātṛkā-pīṭha (Sitz der Muttergöttinnen) soll die Verehrung zusammen mit den begleitenden Āvaraṇas (Umhüllungen) vollzogen werden. In den sechs Dreiecken der Yantra sind die sechs Ṣaḍ-aṅga zu installieren und zu verehren; und außerhalb davon verehre man auf dem achtblättrigen Lotus.

Word by Word

• आज्याक्तैः: with (things) smeared with ghee
• आज्याक्तैः: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आज्य + अक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (P.P.P. of अञ्ज्/अक्त ‘smeared’), तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘आज्येन अक्तैः’

• मातृकापीठे: on the Mātṛkā pedestal/seat
• मातृकापीठे: अधिकरण (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृका + पीठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (पीठ), सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘मातृकाणां पीठे’

• पूजा: worship
• पूजा: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• आवरणैः: with the enclosures/coverings (ritual circles)
• आवरणैः: सहकारक/सह (Accompaniment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आवरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• सह: together with
• सह: सहकारक (Accompaniment)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सहार्थक-अव्यय (preposition/adverb) governing instrumental

• षट्कोणेषु: in the six corners/hexagon points
• षट्कोणेषु: अधिकरण (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट् + कोण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (कोण), सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; द्विगु-समासः ‘षट् कोणाः’

• षडङ्गानि: the six limbs/parts
• षडङ्गानि: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट् + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; द्विगु ‘षट् अङ्गानि’

• तत्: outside of that
• तत्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘in/at that’ qualifying बाह्ये

• बाह्ये: in the outer (area)
• बाह्ये: अधिकरण (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘in the exterior/outside’

• अष्टदले: in the eight-petalled (lotus)
• अष्टदले: अधिकरण (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्ट + दल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु ‘अष्ट दलानि यस्य’ (lotus with eight petals) used as locus

• यजेत्: should worship/offer
• यजेत्: क्रिया (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Parasmaipada

Speaker

Narada (teaching within a technical-ritual context of the Purva Bhaga, Third Pada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Mātṛkā (Mother-goddesses)

FAQs

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

It presents a disciplined, layered (āvaraṇa) mode of worship where sacred space is purified (with ghee) and divinity is approached step-by-step—moving from inner geometric loci (triangles) to the outer lotus—signifying progressive sanctification and focused meditation.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as precise, reverent service: arranging the altar/yantra, honoring inner and outer circuits, and offering worship in the prescribed order—showing devotion as attentive ritual care rather than mere sentiment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights applied ritual science—structured pūjā with āvaraṇas and geometric placement (ṣaṭkoṇa, aṣṭadala)—a practical procedural knowledge aligned with kalpa-style ritual method and temple/altar liturgy.