Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 166

Nityā-paṭala-prakaraṇa

The Exposition of the Nityā-paṭala

Devanagari script

सिंधुतीरे वने चैता यक्षिणीः साधयेन्नरः । कमलैः कैरवै रक्तैः सितैः सौगंधिकोत्पलैः ॥ १६६ ॥

Transliteration

siṃdhutīre vane caitā yakṣiṇīḥ sādhayennaraḥ | kamalaiḥ kairavai raktaiḥ sitaiḥ saugaṃdhikotpalaiḥ || 166 ||

Translation

Am Ufer des Sindhu und im Wald soll der Mensch die Sādhana vollziehen, um diese Yakṣiṇīs zu besänftigen, und Lotosblumen darbringen: rote und weiße Kairava sowie den duftenden blauen Lotos (saugandhika-utpala).

Word by Word

• सिन्धुतीरे: on the river-bank
• सिन्धुतीरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिन्धु + तीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (सिन्धोः तीरम्)

• वने: in the forest
• वने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• एताः: these
• एताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण (demonstrative)

• यक्षिणीः: yakṣiṇīs (female nature-spirits)
• यक्षिणीः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यक्षिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन

• साधयेत्: should accomplish/propitiate
• साधयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: साध् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• कमलैः: with lotuses
• कमलैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन

• कैरवैः: with white water-lilies (kairava)
• कैरवैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कैरव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन

• रक्तैः: red
• रक्तैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying the flowers)

• सितैः: white
• सितैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• सौगन्धिकोत्पलैः: with fragrant blue lotuses (utpala)
• सौगन्धिकोत्पलैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौगन्धिक + उत्पल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (सौगन्धिकम् उत्पलम्)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical/ritual register within Book 1.3)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Sindhu (Indus River)
• Yakshini

FAQs

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

It frames a specific upāsanā-prayoga: the place (Sindhu riverbank, forest) and the prescribed floral offerings, showing that ritual efficacy in the Narada Purana depends on correct deśa (location) and dravya (materials).

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

While not a direct Vishnu-bhakti verse, it reflects devotional discipline through precise offerings and reverent propitiation; it presents bhāva (reverent intent) expressed via regulated ritual action.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights prayoga-style ritual specification—selection of dravya (lotus varieties/colors/fragrance) and deśa-niyama (riverbank/forest), aligning with applied kalpa/ritual procedure themes within the Vedanga-technical orientation of Book 1.3.