Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 68

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

Devanagari script

तांबूलरससंमिश्रं तद्भस्मतिलकं चरेत् । चतुर्णामपि वर्णानां मोहनाय द्विजोत्तमः ॥ ६८ ॥

Transliteration

tāṃbūlarasasaṃmiśraṃ tadbhasmatilakaṃ caret | caturṇāmapi varṇānāṃ mohanāya dvijottamaḥ || 68 ||

Translation

Vermischt man es mit dem Saft von Tāmbūla (Betel), so trage man jene Asche als Tilaka auf. Der Beste der Zweimalgeborenen (dvijottama) tut dies, um Menschen aller vier Varṇas anzuziehen.

Word by Word

• ताम्बूल-रस-संमिश्रम्: mixed with betel-juice
• ताम्बूल-रस-संमिश्रम्: कर्म (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ताम्बूल (प्रातिपदिक) + रस (प्रातिपदिक) + संमिश्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc sg.); समासः तत्पुरुषः (tāṃbūlarasena saṃmiśram)

• तत्-भस्म-तिलकम्: that ash-tilaka (mark of ash)
• तत्-भस्म-तिलकम्: कर्म (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + भस्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + तिलक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc sg.); समासः तत्पुरुषः (tasya bhasma-tilakam = that ash-mark)

• चरेत्: should apply/wear
• चरेत्: विधेय-क्रिया (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• चतुर्णाम्: of the four
• चतुर्णाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.)/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), षष्ठी बहुवचन (Gen pl.)

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: निपात (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/inclusive)

• वर्णानाम्: of the social classes (varṇas)
• वर्णानाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), षष्ठी बहुवचन (Gen pl.)

• मोहनाय: for enchanting/bewildering
• मोहनाय: प्रयोजन (प्रयोजनार्थ-सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.)/पुंलिङ्ग (m.), चतुर्थी एकवचन (Dative sg.)

• द्विज-उत्तमः: the best of the twice-born (brahmin)
• द्विज-उत्तमः: कर्ता (कर्तृ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom sg.); कर्मधारयः (श्रेष्ठः द्विजः)

Speaker

Narada (in instruction mode within a technical/ritual-prayoga context; traditionally framed as Narada teaching the Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

The verse reflects a technical prayoga tradition where substances (here, bhasma and tāmbūla-rasa) are prescribed for a specific intended effect; it shows the Purana’s inclusion of applied ritual science alongside broader dharma and devotion.

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

This specific verse is primarily procedural rather than devotional; it does not teach bhakti directly, but it sits within the wider Narada Purana milieu where external marks and ritual acts are often framed as auxiliaries (aṅgas) that may accompany a religious life.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights prayoga-style ritual know-how—selection and combination of materials (tāmbūla extract with bhasma) and the method of application as tilaka—typical of technical sections associated with applied dharma and ritual procedure.