Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 157

Nityā-paṭala-prakaraṇa

The Exposition of the Nityā-paṭala

Devanagari script

सर्षपाज्यैर्हुते मृत्युः काष्ठाग्नौ वैरिमृत्यवे । चतुरंगुलजैर्होमाञ्चतुरंगबले रिपोः ॥ १५७ ॥

Transliteration

sarṣapājyairhute mṛtyuḥ kāṣṭhāgnau vairimṛtyave | caturaṃgulajairhomāñcaturaṃgabale ripoḥ || 157 ||

Translation

When mustard-seed mixed with ghee is offered into a wood-fed fire, it brings about death—specifically, the death of an enemy. Likewise, by performing homa with offerings prepared in the measure of four aṅgulas, the enemy’s fourfold military strength is destroyed.

Word by Word

• सर्षप-आज्यैः: with mustard and ghee
• सर्षप-आज्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्षप (प्रातिपदिक) + आज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहार-द्वन्द्व), तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; समासः—समाहार-द्वन्द्वः (सर्षपं च आज्यं च)

• हुते: when (it is) offered
• हुते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हु (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन-निभम्; लोके 'हुते (सति)' = सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute)

• मृत्युः: death
• मृत्युः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• काष्ठ-अग्नौ: in the wood-fire
• काष्ठ-अग्नौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण/Locative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (काष्ठेन दीप्तः अग्निः)

• वैरी-मृत्यवे: for the death of the enemy
• वैरी-मृत्यवे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैरी (प्रातिपदिक) + मृत्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान/Dative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (वैरिणः मृत्युः)

• चतुर्-अङ्गुल-जैः: with those produced from the four-finger measure (sticks/pieces)
• चतुर्-अङ्गुल-जैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्गुल (प्रातिपदिक) + ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (चतुरङ्गुलात् जातः)

• होमान्: oblations (homas)
• होमान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन

• चतुर्-अङ्ग-बले: in/with the fourfold army
• चतुर्-अङ्ग-बले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (चतुरङ्गस्य बलम्)

• रिपोः: of the enemy
• रिपोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रिपु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध/Genitive), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (teaching within a technical/ritual section of Book 1.3)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: vira

FAQs

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

It illustrates the Purana’s technical (śāstraic) side: specific materials, fire-type, and measurement are said to produce specific results, emphasizing the precision and potency attributed to Vedic ritual action (karma-kāṇḍa) in the Third Pada.

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

This verse is primarily ritual-technical rather than devotional; indirectly, it shows that Narada Purana contains both bhakti and applied Vedic sciences—yet such aggressive rites are distinct from the Vishnu-bhakti ideal of inner purification and compassion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual procedure and measurement—especially the use of defined substances (sarṣapa, ājya), the kind of fire (kāṣṭhāgni), and the unit aṅgula—reflecting applied knowledge aligned with Kalpa (ritual practice) and technical śāstra conventions.