Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 188

Nityā-paṭala-prakaraṇa

The Exposition of the Nityā-paṭala

Devanagari script

सशुभावयवां मुग्धां स्नातां धौतांबरां शुभाम् । तथाविधं कुमारं वा संस्थाप्यभ्यर्च्य विद्यया ॥ १८८ ॥

Transliteration

saśubhāvayavāṃ mugdhāṃ snātāṃ dhautāṃbarāṃ śubhām | tathāvidhaṃ kumāraṃ vā saṃsthāpyabhyarcya vidyayā || 188 ||

Translation

Nachdem man vor sich ein unschuldiges junges Mädchen mit glückverheißenden Gliedern—gebadet, in frisch gewaschenen Gewändern und von reiner Haltung—oder sonst einen Knaben von gleicher Art hingesetzt hat, soll man die gewählte Gestalt durch die vidyā, den vorgeschriebenen heiligen Ritus, verehren.

Word by Word

• स-शुभ-अवयवाम्: having auspicious limbs/features
• स-शुभ-अवयवाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + शुभ (प्रातिपदिक) + अवयव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहिसमास (यस्याḥ शुभा अवयवाḥ सन्ति); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/कर्म (2nd case), एकवचन; विशेषण

• मुग्धाम्: innocent/beautiful
• मुग्धाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुग्धा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; विशेषण

• स्नाताम्: bathed
• स्नाताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्ना (धातु) → स्नात (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; विशेषण

• धौत-अम्बराम्: wearing washed garments
• धौत-अम्बराम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धाव्/धौ (धातु) → धौत (कृदन्त, क्त) + अम्बर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय (धौतं अम्बरं यस्याः); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; विशेषण

• शुभाम्: auspicious
• शुभाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; विशेषण

• तथा-विधम्: such a one/of that kind
• तथा-विधम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तथा (अव्यय) + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव (तथा-विध = of such a kind); पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/कर्म (2nd case), एकवचन; विशेषण

• कुमारम्: a boy/young man
• कुमारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया/कर्म (2nd case), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प (disjunctive particle)

• संस्थाप्य: having installed/placed
• संस्थाप्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + स्था (धातु) → संस्थाप्य (कृदन्त, ल्यप्)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभावे कृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकाले

• अभ्यर्च्य: having worshipped
• अभ्यर्च्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + अर्च् (धातु) → अभ्यर्च्य (कृदन्त, ल्यप्)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभावे कृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकाले

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

Speaker

Narada (teaching a technical ritual procedure within Book 1.3’s vidyā/Vedāṅga-oriented context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It emphasizes ritual purity and proper eligibility (śauca and lakṣaṇa) before performing a vidyā/mantra-based worship, showing that inner innocence and outer cleanliness support the sanctity of the rite.

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

While framed as a technical procedure, it reinforces bhakti’s discipline: reverent worship (abhyarcana) is to be done with purity, humility, and correct method, so devotion becomes ordered and sacred rather than casual.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual application of mantra-vidyā and the practical rule of śauca (cleanliness/fitness) used in kalpa-style procedures—bathed body, clean clothing, and proper seating/installation (saṁsthāpana) before worship.