Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 194

Rādhā-sambaddha-mantra-vyākhyā

Rādhā-Related Mantras Explained

Devanagari script

चतुरस्रद्वयं कृत्वा चतुर्द्वारोपशोभितम् । शाखष्टकसमोपेतं तत्र प्राग्वत्समर्चयेत् ॥ १९४ ॥

Transliteration

caturasradvayaṃ kṛtvā caturdvāropaśobhitam | śākhaṣṭakasamopetaṃ tatra prāgvatsamarcayet || 194 ||

Translation

Nachdem man ein Paar quadratischer Umfriedungen geschaffen hat, geschmückt mit vier Toren und versehen mit acht Zweigen, soll man dort nach Vorschrift das nach Osten gerichtete Kalb verehren.

Word by Word

• चतुरस्र-द्वयम्: a pair of squares
• चतुरस्र-द्वयम्: कर्म (कर्म/Direct object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुरस्र (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (चतुरस्रयोः द्वयम् = a pair of squares)

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (क्रियाविशेषण/Absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having made)

• चतुर्-द्वार-उपशोभितम्: adorned with four gates
• चतुर्-द्वार-उपशोभितम्: कर्म (कर्म/Direct object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + द्वार (प्रातिपदिक) + उपशोभित (कृदन्त, क्त/PPP, √शुभ् + उप)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (चतुर्भिः द्वारैः उपशोभितम्)

• शाखा-अष्टक-समुपेतम्: provided with eight branches
• शाखा-अष्टक-समुपेतम्: कर्म (कर्म/Direct object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शाखा (प्रातिपदिक) + अष्टक (प्रातिपदिक) + समुपेत (कृदन्त, क्त/PPP, √इ + सम् + उप)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (शाखानाम् अष्टकेन समुपेतम् = furnished with eight branches)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (अधिकरणम्/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• प्राक्-वत्: as before
• प्राक्-वत्: क्रियाविशेषण (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्राक् (अव्यय) + वत् (तद्धित/अव्ययार्थ)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमासः; क्रियाविशेषण (as before)

• समर्चयेत्: should worship
• समर्चयेत्: क्रिया (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + √अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person/प्रथम), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that devotion and worship (arcana) are strengthened by correct sacred geometry and orientation—constructing the proper enclosure and facing east reflects order (ṛta) and disciplined dharma in ritual practice.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through careful, reverent ritual service—preparing the worship-space with defined forms (squares, gateways, branches) and then offering worship to the chosen sacred symbol (the vatsa) according to rule (vidhi).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual-technical knowledge: spatial arrangement, directional orientation (east-facing), and prescribed structural features of a worship setting—skills aligned with kalpa-style procedural discipline within Vedanga-oriented instruction.