Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 175

Nityā-paṭala-prakaraṇa

The Exposition of the Nityā-paṭala

Devanagari script

अर्कवारेऽर्कजैरिध्मैः समिद्धेऽग्नौ तदुद्भवैः । पत्रैः पुष्पैः फलैः काण्डैर्मूलैश्चापि हुनेत्क्रमात् ॥ १७५ ॥

Transliteration

arkavāre'rkajairidhmaiḥ samiddhe'gnau tadudbhavaiḥ | patraiḥ puṣpaiḥ phalaiḥ kāṇḍairmūlaiścāpi hunetkramāt || 175 ||

Translation

Am Sonntag, nachdem man das heilige Feuer mit Brennhölzern aus der Arka-Pflanze entzündet hat, soll man dann der rechten Ordnung gemäß in dieses Feuer Homa-Opfer darbringen mit den Erzeugnissen der Arka selbst—Blättern, Blüten, Früchten, Stängeln und auch Wurzeln.

Word by Word

• अर्कवारे: on Sunday
• अर्कवारे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location-time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्क + वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष-समास: अर्कस्य वारः (Sunday)

• अर्कजैः: born of arka (sun-plant)
• अर्कजैः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of इध्मैः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्क + ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); तत्पुरुष: अर्कात् जात (born from arka)

• इध्मैः: with fuel-sticks
• इध्मैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इध्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• समिद्धे: when kindled
• समिद्धे: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of अग्नौ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + इध् (धातु) → समिद्ध (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (agreeing with अग्नौ), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• अग्नौ: in the fire
• अग्नौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• तदुद्भवैः: with those produced from it
• तदुद्भवैः: Karana (करण/Instrument; with the following items)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् + उद्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); तत्पुरुष: तस्मात् उद्भव (arising from that)

• पत्रैः: with leaves
• पत्रैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• पुष्पैः: with flowers
• पुष्पैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• फलैः: with fruits
• फलैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• काण्डैः: with stalks/sections
• काण्डैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• मूलैः: with roots
• मूलैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अप्यर्थ (also)

• हुनेत्: should offer (into fire)
• हुनेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हु (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• क्रमात्: in due order, successively
• क्रमात्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोगवत् (adverbial usage), पञ्चमी-एकवचन-रूपेण (ablative-form used adverbially)

Speaker

Sanatkumāra (in instruction to Nārada, within a Vedāṅga/kalpa-style ritual context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Arka (plant)

FAQs

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

It teaches a precise, rule-based homa where the offering substances (dravya) are ritually matched to their source (arka), emphasizing purity, order (krama), and disciplined performance as a form of dharma.

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

While primarily a ritual (kalpa) instruction, it supports bhakti indirectly by training the practitioner in reverent, orderly worship through Agni—offering with attention and sacred intent rather than randomness.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (Vedāṅga of ritual procedure) is highlighted: selecting proper materials, timing (Sunday/arkavāra), kindling the fire correctly, and offering specific items in a prescribed sequence (kramāt).