Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 73

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

Devanagari script

असुराक्रांतभूभारहारिणं पूजयेत्ततः । एभिरावरणैः पूजा कर्तव्यासुखैरिणः ॥ ७३ ॥

Transliteration

asurākrāṃtabhūbhārahāriṇaṃ pūjayettataḥ | ebhirāvaraṇaiḥ pūjā kartavyāsukhairiṇaḥ || 73 ||

Translation

Thereafter one should worship the Lord who removes the earth’s burden when it is overrun by the Asuras. Worship of the Bestower of happiness is to be performed using these prescribed āvaraṇa-circles, the attendant layers of deities.

Word by Word

• असुराक्रान्तभूभारहारिणम्: the remover of the earth’s burden overrun by demons
• असुराक्रान्तभूभारहारिणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर + आक्रान्त + भूभार + हारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-श्रृंखला): ‘असुरैः आक्रान्तः भूभारः’ तं ‘हरति’ इति (one who removes the earth’s burden oppressed by demons)

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative); प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/अपादानार्थक (adverb: ‘thereafter/then’)

• एभिः: by/with these
• एभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन

• आवरणैः: with the enclosures/coverings (ritual circles)
• आवरणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आवरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• पूजा: worship
• पूजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• कर्तव्या: should be performed
• कर्तव्या: Vidhyartha (विध्यर्थ/obligation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तव्यत् प्रत्यय (कृत्)
• Form: तव्यत्-कृदन्त (gerundive/obligatory); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘to be done’

• सुखैः: easily/with ease
• सुखैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; (adverbial instrumental)

• इणः: of the seeker (worshipper)
• इणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; ‘of the seeker/one who desires’ (rare)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It identifies Vishnu as the cosmic protector who relieves the earth’s burden caused by demonic oppression, and it links that theology to a precise ritual method—worship through prescribed āvaraṇas—showing that devotion is expressed through ordered sacred procedure.

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

Bhakti here is not merely emotion; it is reverent worship directed to Vishnu’s protective aspect, carried out with discipline through āvaraṇa-pūjā, aligning the devotee’s mind with the Lord’s role as remover of suffering and giver of happiness.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse reflects ritual-technical knowledge—structured pūjā with āvaraṇas (layered/encircling worship)—a procedural discipline consistent with Vedāṅga-oriented precision (especially kalpa-style ritual ordering) as emphasized in Book 1.3.