Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 137

Devapūjā-krama: Ārghya-saṃskāra, Maṇḍala–Nyāsa, Mudrā-pradarśana, Āvaraṇa-arcana, Homa, Japa, and Kṣamāpaṇa

Devanagari script

एवं यथाकथंचित्तु पूजां कुर्याद्धि साधकः । देवपूजाविहीनो यः स गच्छेन्नरकं ध्रुवम् ॥ १३७ ॥

Transliteration

evaṃ yathākathaṃcittu pūjāṃ kuryāddhi sādhakaḥ | devapūjāvihīno yaḥ sa gacchennarakaṃ dhruvam || 137 ||

Translation

Así, aun como sea posible, el sādhaka debe ciertamente realizar la adoración. Quien carece del culto a la Deidad, con seguridad va al infierno.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• यथा: as, in whatever way
• यथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (as/according to)

• कथम्: how, somehow
• कथम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रश्न/अनिश्चित-प्रकारवाचक (how/somehow)

• चित्: somewhat, at least
• चित्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात—अनिश्चितार्थक (enclitic particle: 'some/any')

• तु: but, indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोधार्थक निपात (but/indeed)

• पूजाम्: worship
• पूजाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• कुर्यात्: should do/perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात—हेतौ/निश्चयार्थे (indeed/for)

• साधकः: practitioner
• साधकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• देवपूजाविहीनः: devoid of deity-worship
• देवपूजाविहीनः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देव-पूजा-विहीन (प्रातिपदिक); देव (प्रातिपदिक) + पूजा (प्रातिपदिक) + विहीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (देवपूजा-रहितः = devoid of worship of the deity)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; निर्देशार्थक (correlative pronoun)

• गच्छेत्: would go/should go
• गच्छेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• नरकम्: hell
• नरकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/गन्तव्य), एकवचन

• ध्रुवम्: certainly
• ध्रुवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावे/क्रियाविशेषणवत् प्रयोगः; निश्चयार्थक (certainly)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Vedanga-oriented section on ritual discipline)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Deva (the worship-worthy Deity)

FAQs

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

It establishes deva-pūjā as a non-negotiable pillar of sādhana: even minimal, ‘as-possible’ worship sustains dharma and devotion, while total neglect is treated as a grave spiritual failure with painful consequences.

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

Bhakti is shown as lived practice, not mere sentiment—regular worship (pūjā) is the concrete expression of reverence, remembrance, and surrender to the Deity, even when one’s resources or capacity are limited.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It emphasizes ritual discipline and procedure (prayoga/ācāra) aligned with Vedanga-based practice—maintaining consistent worship as a foundational rule of conduct for a sādhaka.