Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 44

Hanumān-mantra-kathana: Mantra-bheda, Nyāsa, Yantra, and Prayoga

Devanagari script

प्राणप्रतिष्टां कृत्वा च पाद्यादीनि समर्पयेत् । रक्तचंदनपुष्पैश्च सिंदूराद्यैः समर्चयेत् ॥ ४४ ॥

Transliteration

prāṇapratiṣṭāṃ kṛtvā ca pādyādīni samarpayet | raktacaṃdanapuṣpaiśca siṃdūrādyaiḥ samarcayet || 44 ||

Translation

After performing prāṇa-pratiṣṭhā (establishing the life-presence in the Deity), one should offer the ritual services beginning with pādya (water for washing the feet) and the rest; and one should worship with red sandalwood, flowers, and sindūra (vermilion) and similar offerings.

Word by Word

• प्राणप्रतिष्ठाम्: the prāṇa-installation (infusion of life)
• प्राणप्रतिष्ठाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण + प्रतिष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (प्राणानां प्रतिष्ठा)

• कृत्वा: having performed
• कृत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया—पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); having done

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

• पाद्यादीनि: pādya and other offerings
• पाद्यादीनि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद्य + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन; अव्ययीभाव-समास (पाद्यं आदिः यस्य/पाद्यादि = ‘pādya etc.’)

• समर्पयेत्: should offer
• समर्पयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-√अर्प् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• रक्तचन्दनपुष्पैः: with red (sandal) and flowers
• रक्तचन्दनपुष्पैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्त + चन्दन + पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (रक्तं च चन्दनं च पुष्पाणि च)

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

• सिन्दूराद्यैः: with vermilion and the like
• सिन्दूराद्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिन्दूर + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (सिन्दूरः), तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; अव्ययीभाव-समास (सिन्दूरः आदिः येषाम् = ‘vermilion etc.’)

• समर्चयेत्: should worship (honour)
• समर्चयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-√अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical/ritual instruction context within Book 1.3)

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 that worship becomes fully effective after prāṇa-pratiṣṭhā—formally inviting divine presence—followed by respectful upacāras (services) and auspicious offerings, turning ritual into a living act of devotion.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through intimate service to the deity—offering pādya and other courtesies, then adorning with fragrant and auspicious substances—showing devotion as reverent, personal care rather than mere recitation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights procedural ritual know-how (prayoga): the correct sequencing of prāṇa-pratiṣṭhā, upacāra offerings (pādya-ādi), and specific dravyas (materials) like raktacandana and sindūra used in formal pūjā.