Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 47

Hanūmaccarita

The Account of Hanumān

Devanagari script

जपापुष्पं नागमध्ये निधाय मध्ये वस्त्रं द्वादशप्रातिगुण्ये । सुश्वेतेन तस्य मध्ये महेशं लिंगाकारं पीठयुक्तं प्रपूज्यम् ॥ ४७ ॥

Transliteration

japāpuṣpaṃ nāgamadhye nidhāya madhye vastraṃ dvādaśaprātiguṇye | suśvetena tasya madhye maheśaṃ liṃgākāraṃ pīṭhayuktaṃ prapūjyam || 47 ||

Translation

Placing a japā (hibiscus) flower in the midst of the nāga-coil, and in its center setting a cloth folded twelve times, one should then, in the middle of that—upon a perfectly white cloth—duly worship Maheśa in the form of a liṅga, together with its pīṭha.

Word by Word

• japā-puṣpam: hibiscus flower
• japā-puṣpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: japā + puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (japāyāḥ puṣpam)

• nāga-madhye: in the middle of the serpent (figure)
• nāga-madhye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāga + madhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th), Singular; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (nāgasya madhye)

• nidhāya: having placed
• nidhāya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-dhā (धा धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्) of ni+dhā, ‘having placed’

• madhye: in the middle
• madhye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th), Singular

• vastram: cloth
• vastram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vastra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• dvādaśa-prātiguṇye: in a twelvefold proportion
• dvādaśa-prātiguṇye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvādaśa + prātiguṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th), Singular; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (dvādaśa-prātiguṇya = ‘twelvefold proportion/measure’)

• su-śvetena: with very white (cloth)
• su-śvetena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su + śveta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter/Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Singular; उपसर्ग-पूर्वक विशेषणम् (‘very white’)

• tasya: of that/its
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; pronoun

• madhye: in the middle
• madhye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th), Singular

• maheśam: Maheśa (Śiva)
• maheśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maheśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• liṅga-ākāram: having the form of a liṅga
• liṅga-ākāram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: liṅga + ākāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (liṅgasya ākāraḥ)

• pīṭha-yuktam: endowed with a pedestal
• pīṭha-yuktam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pīṭha + yukta (युज् धातु, क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; past passive participle (क्त) ‘joined/with’; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (pīṭhena yuktaḥ)

• prapūjyam: worthy to be worshipped
• prapūjyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-pūj (पूज् धातु)
• Form: Gerundive (तव्यत्/यत्), Neuter/Masculine Accusative Singular agreeing with maheśam; ‘to be worshipped’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Mahesha
• Shiva
• Linga
• Naga

FAQs

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

It emphasizes purity, precision, and reverence in worship: arranging the sacred space and materials correctly culminates in honoring Maheśa as the liṅga with its proper base (pīṭha), symbolizing stable, grounded devotion.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through careful upacāra (ritual service): selecting auspicious items (flower, white cloth), preparing them methodically, and worshipping Śiva’s liṅga-form with focused attention.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual-technical procedure—measurement/folding counts and correct placement of pūjā materials—reflecting applied kalpa-style discipline (practical ritual science) within the Narada Purana’s technical teachings.