Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 176

Nityā-paṭala-prakaraṇa

The Exposition of the Nityā-paṭala

Devanagari script

सवर्णारुणवत्साया घृतसिक्तैस्तु मण्डलात् । अरातिदिङ्मुखो भूत्वा कुंडे त्र्यस्रे विधानतः ॥ १७६ ॥

Transliteration

savarṇāruṇavatsāyā ghṛtasiktaistu maṇḍalāt | arātidiṅmukho bhūtvā kuṃḍe tryasre vidhānataḥ || 176 ||

Translation

Von einem kreisförmigen Mandala ausgehend, nachdem man es mit Ghee besprengt hat, soll man nach der vorgeschriebenen Regel Stellung beziehen, dem Feind entgegengesetzt ausgerichtet, und das Ritual in einer dreieckigen Feuergrube (Kunda) vollziehen.

Word by Word

• सवर्णारुणवत्सायाः: of the reddish cow with same-colored calf
• सवर्णारुणवत्सायाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सवर्ण + अरुण + वत्सा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय-समास: सवर्णा च सा अरुणा च (having same color, reddish) + वत्सा (cow with calf)

• घृतसिक्तैः: with (items) sprinkled with ghee
• घृतसिक्तैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घृत + सिक्त (कृदन्त; सिच् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); तत्पुरुष: घृतेन सिक्त (sprinkled with ghee)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विशेषार्थक (emphatic)

• मण्डलात्: from the circle/diagram
• मण्डलात्: Apadana (अपादान/Ablative-source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन (Singular)

• अरातिदिङ्मुखः: facing the enemy’s direction
• अरातिदिङ्मुखः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; of भूत्वा)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अराति + दिङ् + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष: अरातेः दिक् (direction of the enemy) + मुख (facing)

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Gerundial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal), पूर्वकाल (prior action)

• कुण्डे: in the fire-pit
• कुण्डे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• त्र्यस्रे: in the triangular (pit)
• त्र्यस्रे: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of कुण्डे)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि + अस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); द्विगु-समास: त्रयः अस्राः (three corners)

• विधानतः: according to prescription
• विधानतः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb), ‘according to rule’ अर्थे

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical/ritual context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: vira (heroic)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that spiritual efficacy in ritual action (karma-kāṇḍa) depends on precision—proper mandala preparation, consecration with ghee, correct orientation, and the correctly shaped kunda as per śāstra.

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

While the verse is primarily procedural, it supports bhakti indirectly by teaching disciplined, rule-based worship (vidhi) where devotion is expressed through careful adherence to prescribed sacred actions.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual geometry and directional orientation used in rites (mandala, kunda-shape, dik-niyama), reflecting applied Kalpa/Vedāṅga-style procedural knowledge.