Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 33

Devapūjā-krama: Ārghya-saṃskāra, Maṇḍala–Nyāsa, Mudrā-pradarśana, Āvaraṇa-arcana, Homa, Japa, and Kṣamāpaṇa

Devanagari script

वक्रां दग्धां खंडितां च भिन्नमूर्द्धदृशं पुनः । स्पष्टां वाप्यन्त्यजाद्यैश्च प्रतिमां नैव पूजयेत् ॥ ३३ ॥

Transliteration

vakrāṃ dagdhāṃ khaṃḍitāṃ ca bhinnamūrddhadṛśaṃ punaḥ | spaṣṭāṃ vāpyantyajādyaiśca pratimāṃ naiva pūjayet || 33 ||

Translation

One should never worship an image that is crooked, burnt, broken, or fragmented—nor one whose head or gaze is damaged. Likewise, an image that is poorly finished or defaced by blemishes and the like should not be worshipped.

Word by Word

• वक्राम्: crooked
• वक्राम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण—‘प्रतिमाम्’ इत्यस्य

• दग्धाम्: burnt
• दग्धाम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दह् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• खण्डिताम्: broken
• खण्डिताम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: खण्ड् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• भिन्न-मूर्ध-दृशम्: having a split/broken head (head-part)
• भिन्न-मूर्ध-दृशम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भिन्न (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक) + दृश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण—‘मूर्धदृश्’ = शिरः/मस्तक-भागः; ‘भिन्नमूर्धदृशम्’ = शिरोभागे भिन्नम्

• पुनः: again; further
• पुनः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• स्पष्टाम्: indistinct/unclear (i.e., not well-defined)
• स्पष्टाम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्पष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• वा: or
• वा: विकल्प (Alternative marker/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: निपात (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक अव्यय (particle: also/even)

• अन्त्यज-आद्यैः: by outcastes and the like
• अन्त्यज-आद्यैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्त्यज (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; करण—‘अन्त्यजाद्यैः’ = अन्त्यजैः आदिभिः (with outcastes etc.)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• प्रतिमाम्: an idol/image
• प्रतिमाम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation particle)

• एव: indeed/at all
• एव: अवधारण (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: क्रिया (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person/प्रथम), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

FAQs

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

It teaches that worship must be offered to a properly formed and ritually fit pratimā; defects and defilement obstruct the intended sacred focus and the integrity of the rite.

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

Bhakti here is disciplined devotion: reverence is expressed by maintaining purity, correctness, and care in the external supports of worship, so the mind can rest steadily on the deity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects applied ritual-technical knowledge (kalpa/ācāra and allied śilpa considerations): identifying pratimā-doṣas (iconic defects) and knowing when an image is unfit for pūjā.