Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 128

The Description of the Worship of Rāma and Others

Rāmādi-pūjā-vidhāna

Devanagari script

पादैः सर्वेण पंचांगं कुर्याच्छेषं षडर्णवत् । लक्षं जपो दशांशेन जुहुयात्पायसैः सुधीः ॥ १२८ ॥

Transliteration

pādaiḥ sarveṇa paṃcāṃgaṃ kuryāccheṣaṃ ṣaḍarṇavat | lakṣaṃ japo daśāṃśena juhuyātpāyasaiḥ sudhīḥ || 128 ||

Translation

Using the mantra in full with all its parts, one should perform the fivefold ancillary observances (pañcāṅga), and treat the remaining portion as a six-syllabled formula. The wise should complete one hundred thousand japa repetitions, and then offer one tenth of that number as homa oblations using pāyasa (rice-milk).

Word by Word

• पादैः: with (its) parts/quarters
• पादैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural (‘with/by quarters/parts’)

• सर्वेण: with the whole (of it)
• सर्वेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; Instrumental singular (‘with the whole/entirely’)

• पञ्च-अङ्गम्: the fivefold set
• पञ्च-अङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular; ‘five-limbed (set)’

• कुर्यात्: should perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; should do/perform

• शेषम्: the remainder
• शेषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular (‘the remainder’)

• षड्-अर्ण-वत्: like (a mantra) of six syllables
• षड्-अर्ण-वत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षड् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + अर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित)
• Form: अव्ययवत्-प्रयोगः/तुल्यतार्थक-वत्; indeclinable-like comparative ‘like/with six syllables’; here qualifying ‘शेषम्’

• लक्षम्: one lakh (100,000)
• लक्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular (as measure/number)

• जपः: japa/recitation
• जपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• दश-अंशेन: by one-tenth (as a portion)
• दश-अंशेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + अंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; Instrumental singular; ‘by a tenth part’

• जुहुयात्: should offer (oblation)
• जुहुयात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हु (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; should offer into fire

• पायसैः: with pāyasa (rice-milk)
• पायसैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पायस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural (‘with rice-milk/pāyasa’)

• सुधीः: the wise person
• सुधीः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुधी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular (‘the wise man’)

Speaker

Narada (teaching the ritual discipline; dialogue context within Narada–Sanatkumara tradition)

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 prescribes a disciplined completion-method for mantra practice: full recitation supported by five auxiliaries, culminating in a purifying homa equal to one-tenth of the japa count—framing mantra as both inner repetition and outer sacrificial offering.

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

Though technical, it supports bhakti by emphasizing sustained, attentive repetition (japa) and consecration through offering (homa), turning devotion into a regulated sādhanā rather than a casual act.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual mathematics and procedure—lakṣa-japa followed by daśāṃśa-homa—and the use of specific dravya (pāyasa) for oblations, reflecting the technical discipline typical of Vedāṅga-informed karma-kāṇḍa practice.