Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 138

Nityā-paṭala-prakaraṇa

The Exposition of the Nityā-paṭala

Devanagari script

उपर्यग्निं निधायाथ विद्यया दिनशो हुनेत् । त्रिसहस्रं त्रियमायां सर्षपैस्तद्रसाप्लुतैः ॥ १३८ ॥

Transliteration

uparyagniṃ nidhāyātha vidyayā dinaśo hunet | trisahasraṃ triyamāyāṃ sarṣapaistadrasāplutaiḥ || 138 ||

Translation

Dann lege man es über das Feuer und vollziehe täglich die Opfergaben mit der vorgeschriebenen Mantra-Vidyā: dreitausend Darbringungen im Verlauf von drei Yāmas, mit Senfkörnern, die in seinem ausgepressten Saft getränkt sind.

Word by Word

• उपरि: above/on top
• उपरि: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उपरि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (above/on)

• अग्निम्: fire
• अग्निम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• निधाय: having placed
• निधाय: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नि + धा (धातु) → निधाय (क्त्वा/absolutive-variant)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive); पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया (having placed)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तर/क्रम (then/thereupon)

• विद्यया: with (a) mantra/vidyā
• विद्यया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• दिनशः: day by day
• दिनशः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दिनशः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; वितरण/क्रम (day by day)

• हुनेत्: should offer (oblation)
• हुनेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हु (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• त्रि-सहस्रम्: three thousand (times/offerings)
• त्रि-सहस्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः—‘त्रीणि सहस्राणि’ (three thousand)

• त्रि-यामायाम्: in the third watch (of the day/night)
• त्रि-यामायाम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + यामा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः—‘त्रयः यामाः’ (in the third watch/three-hour period)

• सर्षपैः: with mustard seeds
• सर्षपैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्षप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• तद्-रस-आप्लुतैः: soaked in that juice
• तद्-रस-आप्लुतैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + रस (प्रातिपदिक) + आप्लुत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; ‘तस्य रसेन आप्लुत’ इति तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः; भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada the technical ritual procedure)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara
• Agni

FAQs

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

It emphasizes disciplined, mantra-guided daily homa: precise placement (above the fire), correct materials (mustard seeds), and regulated counts and timing (three thousand over three yāmas) as a means to purify and accomplish the intended rite.

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

Though technical, the instruction reflects bhakti through steady, reverent service to the sacred fire and mantra—devotion expressed as regular, careful ritual performance rather than mere sentiment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is primary: rules for homa, materials, counts, and timing (yāma-based scheduling), along with mantra-vidyā application in a regulated daily practice.