Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 114

Nityā-paṭala-prakaraṇa

The Exposition of the Nityā-paṭala

Devanagari script

अभ्यर्च्य तद् घृताभ्यक्तं भक्षयेत्तद्धिया जपन् । नरनारीनृपास्तस्य वश्याः स्युर्मरणावधिं ॥ ११४ ॥

Transliteration

abhyarcya tad ghṛtābhyaktaṃ bhakṣayettaddhiyā japan | naranārīnṛpāstasya vaśyāḥ syurmaraṇāvadhiṃ || 114 ||

Translation

Nachdem man es gebührend verehrt hat, soll man jene mit Ghee bestrichene Substanz essen, während man das Mantra mit darauf gefestigtem Geist wiederholt; so werden Männer, Frauen und selbst Könige ihm gefügig—bis zur Stunde des Todes.

Word by Word

• अभ्यर्च्य: having worshipped
• अभ्यर्च्य: पूर्वक्रिया (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-√अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावेन; धातु: √अर्च् (पूजायाम्) उपसर्ग: अभि

• तत्: that
• तत्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally

• घृताभ्यक्तम्: smeared with ghee
• घृताभ्यक्तम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घृत + अभ्यक्त (प्रातिपदिक; √अञ्ज्/√अक्त्-भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समास: षष्ठी/तृतीया-तत्पुरुष (घृतेन अभ्यक्तम् = anointed with ghee); कृदन्त: क्त (past passive participle)

• भक्षयेत्: should eat
• भक्षयेत्: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तत्-धिया: with that intention
• तत्-धिया: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (तस्य धिया = with that thought/intention)

• जपन्: while reciting
• जपन्: कर्ता (Karta/Agent)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जप् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; परस्मैपदी

• नर-नारी-नृपाः: men, women, and kings
• नर-नारी-नृपाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक) + नारी (प्रातिपदिक) + नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (men, women, and kings)

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; genitive pronoun

• वश्याः: submissive/under control
• वश्याः: कर्तृपूरक (Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; predicate adjective

• स्युः: would be/should become
• स्युः: क्रिया (Copula)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• मरण-अवधिम्: until death
• मरण-अवधिम्: अधिकरण (Extent/Limit; kāla-paryanta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरण (प्रातिपदिक) + अवधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समास: अव्ययीभाव/तत्पुरुषार्थे (मरणं यावत् = up to death) used adverbially as extent

Speaker

Narada (instructional narration within a technical/mantra-prayoga section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It emphasizes the claimed potency of a properly performed mantra-prayoga: worship (abhyarcana), disciplined japa, and a prescribed ritual act are presented as producing powerful worldly results.

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

This verse is primarily procedural rather than bhakti-centered; devotion appears indirectly through the act of worship and focused remembrance during japa, but the stated aim here is worldly influence rather than liberation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights prayoga-style ritual application—sequencing of worship, mantra-japa, and a specific rite (ghṛta-anulepana and bhakṣaṇa)—reflecting technical liturgical practice aligned with Vedāṅga-oriented procedural discipline.