Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 31

Bhuvaneśī (Nidrā-Śakti) Mantra-vidhi, Nyāsa–Āvaraṇa Worship, Padma-homa Prayogas, and the Opening of Śrī-Mahālakṣmī Upāsanā

Devanagari script

सव्येन पतिमाश्लिष्य वामेनोत्पलधारिणीम् । पाणिना रमणांकस्थां रतिं सम्यक्समर्चयेत् ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

savyena patimāśliṣya vāmenotpaladhāriṇīm | pāṇinā ramaṇāṃkasthāṃ ratiṃ samyaksamarcayet || 31 ||

Translation

Abrazando al esposo por el lado izquierdo y sosteniendo un loto con la mano izquierda, debe adorarse debidamente a Rati, sentada en el regazo de su amado, con la mano derecha según el rito.

Word by Word

• savyena: with the left (hand/side)
• savyena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: savya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; used adverbially ‘with the left (hand/side)’

• patim: husband/lord
• patim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• āśliṣya: having embraced
• āśliṣya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-śliṣ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), indeclinable verbal form; from √śliṣ with prefix ā- ‘having embraced’

• vāmena: with the other hand/side (vāma)
• vāmena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; used adverbially ‘with the right (hand/side)’ (vāma = left; here contrasts savya/vāma per iconographic convention)

• utpala-dhāriṇīm: the lotus-holding (goddess)
• utpala-dhāriṇīm: Karma (कर्म) / Viśeṣaṇa of implied devī
• Type: Adjective
• Root: utpala + dhāriṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; tatpuruṣa ‘lotus-holding (female)’

• pāṇinā: with the hand
• pāṇinā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• ramaṇa-aṃka-sthām: seated on the beloved’s lap
• ramaṇa-aṃka-sthām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of ‘ratim’
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ramaṇa + aṃka + sthā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; tatpuruṣa ‘situated on the lap of the beloved’

• ratim: Rati
• ratim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• samyak: properly
• samyak: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samyak (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• samarcayet: should worship
• samarcayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-arc (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/optative), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); causative sense not intended, simple ‘worship’ with prefix sam-

Speaker

Narada (in an instructional/ritual context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Rati
• Pati (husband)
• Ramaṇa (beloved)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes precision in worship—proper posture, attributes (lotus), and respectful handling—showing that devotional intent is expressed through correct ritual form (vidhi) as taught in technical sections of the Purana.

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

By prescribing attentive, careful worship of a deity-form (here, Rati), the verse highlights disciplined reverence—bhakti expressed through orderly service (seva) and correct honoring (samarcana).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa-type ritual knowledge: procedural rules for pūjā, including iconographic identifiers (lotus-bearing) and the correct manner of offering worship with the hand.