Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 87

The Description of the Worship of Rāma and Others

Rāmādi-pūjā-vidhāna

Devanagari script

प्रणवो हृदयं सीतापतये तदनंतरम् । रामाय हनयुग्मांते वर्मास्त्राग्निप्रियांतिमः ॥ ८७ ॥

Transliteration

praṇavo hṛdayaṃ sītāpataye tadanaṃtaram | rāmāya hanayugmāṃte varmāstrāgnipriyāṃtimaḥ || 87 ||

Translation

The Praṇava (Oṁ) is to be placed upon the heart. Immediately after, it is offered to the Lord of Sītā; then to Rāma. At the end, with the pair of syllables “ha-na”, the final application is made to the beloved Fire-weapon—thus forming the protective kavaca (armour) and astra (weapon) arrangement.

Word by Word

• प्रणवः: the praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्रणवः: कर्ता/उद्देश्य (Topic/Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• हृदयम्: the heart (seed/part)
• हृदयम्: विशेष्य/अवयव (Appositional element/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (nom./acc.), एकवचन (singular); अत्र ‘हृदय-बीज/हृदय-भाग’ इति नामरूपेण

• सीतापतये: to Sītā’s lord
• सीतापतये: सम्प्रदान (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सीतायाः पतिः), पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (dative/4th), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: सम्बन्ध (Deictic/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (nom./acc.), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• अनन्तरम्: immediately after
• अनन्तरम्: काल (Temporal adverb/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषण-प्रयोगः; नपुंसक एकवचन रूपेण अव्ययार्थः—‘immediately after’

• रामाय: to Rāma
• रामाय: सम्प्रदान (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (dative/4th), एकवचन

• हन: ‘han’ (mantric syllable)
• हन: मन्त्राङ्ग (Mantra component/मन्त्राङ्ग)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: आदेश/धातुरूप-निर्देश (mantra-syllable/seed-like usage); अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः

• युग्मान्ते: at the end of the pair
• युग्मान्ते: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युग्म + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (युग्मस्य अन्तः), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (locative/7th), एकवचन

• वर्म: armor (protective formula)
• वर्म: मन्त्राङ्ग (Mantra component/मन्त्राङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्मन्/वर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (nom./acc.), एकवचन; मन्त्राङ्ग-नाम

• अस्त्र: weapon (missile formula)
• अस्त्र: मन्त्राङ्ग (Mantra component/मन्त्राङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; मन्त्राङ्ग-नाम

• अग्निप्रिया: Agni’s beloved (name)
• अग्निप्रिया: मन्त्राङ्ग (Mantra component/मन्त्राङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि + प्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (अग्नेः प्रिया), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; मन्त्राङ्ग-नाम

• अन्तिमः: the last
• अन्तिमः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्तिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

Speaker

Narada (in instruction mode, within a technical/ritual exposition to the Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Om (Praṇava)
• Sita
• Rama

FAQs

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

It teaches a disciplined, inwardly oriented mantra-practice where Oṁ is established in the heart and the devotee ritually aligns body and speech with Śrī Rāma, forming a protective kavaca (spiritual armour) through nyāsa.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as intimate remembrance and surrender: addressing Rāma as “Sītāpati” and “Rāma” while placing sacred sound in the heart makes devotion embodied, not merely verbal.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects mantra-vidhi and phonetic precision (Śikṣā): specific syllables and sequence (ending with a defined syllable-pair) are prescribed for nyāsa, showing the technical method of applying mantras as kavaca/astric protections.