Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 118

Nityā-paṭala-prakaraṇa

The Exposition of the Nityā-paṭala

Devanagari script

विधाय विद्यामष्टोर्द्धूशतं जप्त्वा हुनेत्ततः । एवं होमो महालक्ष्मीमावहेत्प्रतिपत्कृतः ॥ ११८ ॥

Transliteration

vidhāya vidyāmaṣṭorddhūśataṃ japtvā hunettataḥ | evaṃ homo mahālakṣmīmāvahetpratipatkṛtaḥ || 118 ||

Translation

Nachdem man das vorgeschriebene Ritual vollzogen und das Mantra hundertachtmal rezitiert hat, soll man sodann die Opfergaben (āhuti) ins Feuer darbringen. So am Pratipat (erster Mondtag) ausgeführt, ruft dieses Homa Mahālakṣmī herbei.

Word by Word

• विधाय: having arranged/performed
• विधाय: पूर्वक्रिया (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावेन; धातु: √धा (धारणे/विधाने) उपसर्ग: वि

• विद्याम्: the mantra/vidyā
• विद्याम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अष्टोर्द्धू-शतम्: one hundred and eight (108)
• अष्टोर्द्धू-शतम्: परिमाण (Measure/Count)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्ट (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + ऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक) + शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; संख्यावाचक-समासार्थे (अष्टोत्तरशतम् = 108)

• जप्त्वा: having recited
• जप्त्वा: पूर्वक्रिया (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावेन

• हुनेत्: should offer (into fire)
• हुनेत्: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हु (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: कालाधिकरण (Temporal adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), क्रम/अनन्तर (thereafter)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: प्रकार (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb; manner)

• होमः: the fire-offering (homa)
• होमः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• महा-लक्ष्मीम्: Mahālakṣmī
• महा-लक्ष्मीम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + लक्ष्मी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महती लक्ष्मीः = Mahālakṣmī)

• आवहेत्: should bring/invoke
• आवहेत्: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√वह् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• प्रतिपत्-कृतः: performed on pratipad (lunar day)
• प्रतिपत्-कृतः: कर्तृपूरक (Qualifier of subject ‘homa’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रतिपत् (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत (प्रातिपदिक; √कृ)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समास: तत्पुरुष (प्रतिपदि कृतः = performed on pratipad/tithi); कृदन्त: क्त (PPP)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical/ritual context within the Vedanga-oriented section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Mahalakshmi

FAQs

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

It presents a precise sādhanā: mantra-japa followed by homa, timed to Pratipat, to invite Mahālakṣmī—symbolizing auspiciousness, prosperity, and divine grace through disciplined ritual.

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

Bhakti is expressed here as reverent, rule-guided worship—reciting the vidyā with focus and completing it with offerings—treating Mahālakṣmī as a living divine presence to be lovingly invoked.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights kalpa-style ritual procedure and lunar-day timing (tithi: Pratipat), along with the standard count of 108 for japa prior to homa—practical liturgical and calendrical application.