Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

अमुकार्ध्यामृतायेति हृन्मनुश्चार्ध्यपूजने । तत्र षोडशसंख्याका यजेञ्चंद्रमसः कलाः ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

amukārdhyāmṛtāyeti hṛnmanuścārdhyapūjane | tatra ṣoḍaśasaṃkhyākā yajeñcaṃdramasaḥ kalāḥ || 17 ||

Translation

En el culto con ofrenda de arghya, debe emplearse el mantra del corazón (hṛnmanu) que comienza con “amukārghyāmṛtāya”. Allí se ha de adorar las dieciséis kalās (fases sagradas) de la Luna.

Word by Word

• अमुका: such-and-such (a specific)
• अमुका: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमुका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (fem. nom. sg.)

• अर्घ्य: arghya-offering
• अर्घ्य: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्घ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अमृताय: for nectar/ambrosia
• अमृताय: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/इत्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• हृत्-मनुः: the heart-mantra (manu)
• हृत्-मनुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृत् (प्रातिपदिक) + मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (hṛt = हृदयस्य)

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

• अर्घ्य-पूजने: in the worship with arghya
• अर्घ्य-पूजने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्घ्य (प्रातिपदिक) + पूजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (arghyasya pūjane)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• षोडश-संख्याका: numbering sixteen
• षोडश-संख्याका: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षोडश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + संख्यक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (ṣoḍaśā eva saṃkhyā yāsām)

• यजेत्: should worship/sacrifice
• यजेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• चन्द्रमसः: of the moon
• चन्द्रमसः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्रमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• कलाः: digits/phases
• कलाः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within the Vedanga/ritual-technical discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Chandra (Moon)

FAQs

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

It links outer ritual (arghya) with inner recitation (hṛnmanu), teaching that correct mantra-intent and precise worship of cosmic principles—here, the Moon’s kalās—refine the practitioner toward amṛta (spiritual vitality/immortality).

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

Bhakti is expressed through disciplined upāsanā: offering arghya with a focused heart-mantra and honoring the Moon’s divine aspects (kalās) as a sacred manifestation within the ordered cosmos.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Jyotiṣa-oriented ritual timing and lunar doctrine are implied by the ‘sixteen kalās’ of the Moon, alongside mantra-application rules (prayoga) used in formal worship procedures.