Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 46

Kalpa-Lakṣaṇa and Gṛhya-Kalpa: Classifications, Purifications, Implements, and Spatial Rite-Design

Devanagari script

आघारौ नासिके प्रौक्तौ आज्यभागौ च चक्षुषी । प्राजापत्यं मुखं प्रोक्तं कटिर्व्याहृतिभिः स्मृता ॥ ४६ ॥

Transliteration

āghārau nāsike prauktau ājyabhāgau ca cakṣuṣī | prājāpatyaṃ mukhaṃ proktaṃ kaṭirvyāhṛtibhiḥ smṛtā || 46 ||

Translation

The two āghāra offerings are declared to be the two nostrils; the two ghee portions (ājyabhāga) are the two eyes. The prājāpatya rite is said to be the mouth, and the waist is remembered as the vyāhṛtis, the sacred utterances.

Word by Word

• आघारौ: the two āghāras (oblatory acts)
• आघारौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आघार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• नासिके: (as) the two nostrils
• नासिके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नासिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• प्रौक्तौ: are declared
• प्रौक्तौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-उच् (धातु) → प्रोक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP); प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; ‘said/declared’ (आघारौ इति)

• आज्यभागौ: the two portions of ghee
• आज्यभागौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्यभाग (प्रातिपदिक; आज्य + भाग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (आज्यस्य भागौ)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-निपात

• चक्षुषी: the two eyes
• चक्षुषी: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्षुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• प्राजापत्यम्: prajāpatya (of Prajāpati)
• प्राजापत्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राजापत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणं ‘मुखम्’ प्रति; ‘belonging to Prajāpati’

• मुखम्: the mouth
• मुखम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रोक्तम्: is declared
• प्रोक्तम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-उच् (धातु) → प्रोक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP); प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; ‘is declared’

• कटिः: the waist
• कटिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• व्याहृतिभिः: by the vyāhṛtis (bhūḥ, bhuvaḥ, svaḥ etc.)
• व्याहृतिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याहृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन

• स्मृता: is remembered as
• स्मृता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) → स्मृत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP); प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग; ‘is remembered/considered’ (कटिः इति)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Prajapati

FAQs

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

It teaches an adhyātma (inner) reading of yajña: the external fire-ritual elements are contemplated as parts of one’s own body, turning ritual into self-discipline and inward worship.

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

By internalizing the offerings and sacred utterances, the practitioner learns to treat the body and breath as instruments of worship—supporting steady remembrance and reverence that mature into devotional absorption.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual terminology and procedure (Śrauta/Smārta prayoga): āghāra and ājyabhāga offerings, the prājāpatya act, and the role of vyāhṛtis as sacred formulae used in recitation within Vedic rites.