Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 43

Bhuvaneśī (Nidrā-Śakti) Mantra-vidhi, Nyāsa–Āvaraṇa Worship, Padma-homa Prayogas, and the Opening of Śrī-Mahālakṣmī Upāsanā

Devanagari script

मंत्री त्रिमधुरोपेतैर्हुत्वाश्वत्थसमिद्वरैः । ब्राह्मणान्वशयेच्छीघ्रं पार्थिवान्पद्महोमतः ॥ ४३ ॥

Transliteration

maṃtrī trimadhuropetairhutvāśvatthasamidvaraiḥ | brāhmaṇānvaśayecchīghraṃ pārthivānpadmahomataḥ || 43 ||

Translation

Der Mantrin (Ritualkundige) opfert in das Feuer mit den besten Aśvattha-Zündhölzern, begleitet von den „drei Süßigkeiten“; durch das Padma-homa (Lotus-Feueropfer) bringt er Brahmanen und Könige rasch unter seinen Einfluss.

Word by Word

• maṃtrī: the minister/priest (mantrin)
• maṃtrī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maṃtrin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• tri-madhura-upetaiḥ: accompanied by three sweet substances
• tri-madhura-upetaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या) + madhura (प्रातिपदिक) + upeta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (agreeing with samid-varaiḥ); समासः: ‘त्रिभिः मधुरैः उपेतैः’ = accompanied with three sweet things

• hutvā: having offered (oblation)
• hutvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: hu (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal); ‘having offered (into fire)’

• aśvattha-samid-varaiḥ: with excellent aśvattha fuel-sticks
• aśvattha-samid-varaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśvattha (प्रातिपदिक) + samid (प्रातिपदिक) + vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (samid), तृतीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः: ‘अश्वत्थस्य समिधः’ + ‘वराः’ = with excellent aśvattha fuel-sticks

• brāhmaṇān: Brahmins
• brāhmaṇān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• vaśayet: should subdue/bring under control
• vaśayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vaś (धातु, causative sense)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; णिच्-अर्थः (causative sense): ‘to bring under control’

• śīghram: quickly
• śīghram: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śīghra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावेन प्रयुक्तम्; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• pārthivān: kings/earthly rulers
• pārthivān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pārthiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• padma-homataḥ: by (the rite of) padma-homa
• padma-homataḥ: Hetu/Instrumental cause (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: padma (प्रातिपदिक) + homa (प्रातिपदिक) + tas (तसिल्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिलन्त (ablatival adverb): ‘padma-homāt’ = from/by means of the padma-homa; समासः: षष्ठी/तत्पुरुष-समासः ‘पद्मस्य होमः’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a technical-ritual context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahmana
• Parthiva (king/ruler)
• Ashvattha

FAQs

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

It illustrates the Purana’s technical (Book 1.3) focus on karma-kāṇḍa applications—how specific homa materials and offerings are traditionally linked to particular worldly outcomes, emphasizing precision in ritual performance.

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

This verse is primarily ritual-technical rather than bhakti-centered; it reflects pravṛtti-oriented rites for results. In the Narada Purana’s broader teaching, such acts are ideally subordinated to dharma and ultimately to devotion, rather than pursued as ends in themselves.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights applied ritual procedure (kalpa-style knowledge): choosing specific samid (aśvattha fuel) and specified offerings (tri-madhura) for a defined homa (Padma-homa), showing the text’s technical mapping of materials to intended results.