Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 54

The Exposition of the Krishna Mantra (Kṛṣṇa-mantra-prakāśa): Nyāsa, Dhyāna, Worship, Yantra, and Prayoga

Devanagari script

श्रीवत्सं च हृदि प्रार्च्य ततः पुष्पांजलिं क्षिपेत् । ततः श्वेतां च तुलसीं शुक्लचंदनपंकिलाम् ॥ ५४ ॥

Transliteration

śrīvatsaṃ ca hṛdi prārcya tataḥ puṣpāṃjaliṃ kṣipet | tataḥ śvetāṃ ca tulasīṃ śuklacaṃdanapaṃkilām || 54 ||

Translation

After duly worshipping the Śrīvatsa mark upon His chest, one should then offer a handful of flowers. Thereafter, one should offer white tulasī leaves, smeared with white sandal paste.

Word by Word

• श्रीवत्सम्: Śrīvatsa mark
• श्रीवत्सम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीवत्स (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

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

• हृदि: on the chest/heart
• हृदि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• प्रार्च्य: having worshipped
• प्रार्च्य: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आ-अर्च् (धातु) → प्रार्च्य (ल्यप्)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having worshipped)

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kāla/Adverbial (काल/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमवाचक (then/thereafter)

• पुष्प-अञ्जलिम्: a handful of flowers
• पुष्प-अञ्जलिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (handful of flowers)

• क्षिपेत्: should place/throw
• क्षिपेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kāla/Adverbial (काल/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमवाचक (then)

• श्वेताम्: white
• श्वेताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्वेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘तुलसीम्’)

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

• तुलसीम्: tulasī (holy basil)
• तुलसीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुलसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• शुक्ल-चन्दन-पङ्किलाम्: smeared with white sandal paste
• शुक्ल-चन्दन-पङ्किलाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + चन्दन (प्रातिपदिक) + पङ्किल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (शुक्लचन्दनेन पङ्किला = smeared with white sandal paste)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue teaching Narada the procedural details of worship)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shrivatsa
• Tulasi
• Chandana

FAQs

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

It highlights reverent, detail-oriented worship: honoring Viṣṇu’s Śrīvatsa (a sign of auspiciousness and Śrī/Lakṣmī’s presence) and then offering pure, sattvic items—flowers, tulasī, and sandal paste—as acts of loving devotion.

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

Bhakti is expressed through upacāras (devotional services): the devotee approaches the Lord with attention, purity, and affection, offering tulasī and fragrant sandalwood as tangible symbols of surrender and love.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual praxis and procedure (prayoga): the ordered sequence of offerings in pūjā (worshipping the deity’s emblem, then flowers, then tulasī with candana) reflects technical discipline akin to Kalpa-style ritual organization.