Shloka 49

Pūjādi-kathana — Gaṅgā Vratas, Tenfold Worship, Stotra, and Mokṣa on the Riverbank

Devanagari script

अथ तत्राप्यशक्तश्चेल्लिखेत्पिष्टेन वै भुवि । चतुर्भुजां सुनेत्रां च चन्द्रायुतसमप्रभाम् ॥ ४९ ॥

Transliteration

atha tatrāpyaśaktaścellikhetpiṣṭena vai bhuvi | caturbhujāṃ sunetrāṃ ca candrāyutasamaprabhām || 49 ||

Translation

Ahora bien, si aun allí no se tiene capacidad, dibújese en el suelo con harina: una forma divina de cuatro brazos, de hermosos ojos, y resplandeciente con un fulgor igual al de diez millones de lunas.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Discourse marker (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आरम्भ/अनन्तर (then/now)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (there)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि = also/even

• अशक्तः: unable
• अशक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (कर्तृ)

• चेत्: if
• चेत्: Condition marker (निमित्त)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चेत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शर्त/निबन्ध (conditional particle: if)

• लिखेत्: should draw/write
• लिखेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लिख् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• पिष्टेन: with paste/flour
• पिष्टेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक; √पिष् क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; द्रव्य (paste/flour)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphasis)

• भुवि: on the ground
• भुवि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन

• चतुर्भुजाम्: four-armed
• चतुर्भुजाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक) + भुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु/बहुव्रीहि-प्रायः; ‘चत्वारो भुजाः यस्याः सा’ (four-armed); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (देवीम् implied)

• सुनेत्राम्: beautiful-eyed
• सुनेत्राम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (सुन्दराणि नेत्राणि यस्याः); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• चन्द्रायुतसमप्रभाम्: having radiance equal to ten thousand moons
• चन्द्रायुतसमप्रभाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अयुत (प्रातिपदिक) + सम (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (चन्द्राणाम् अयुतस्य समा प्रभा यस्याः); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (देवीम् implied)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a ritual-instruction context within Uttara-Bhaga)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"adbhuta","secondary_rasa":"bhakti","emotional_journey":"From inability and humility to a luminous visualization of the deity, transforming constraint into awe-filled devotion."}

FAQs

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

It teaches that devotion and intent (bhāva) can preserve the efficacy of worship even when one lacks resources—using a simple flour-drawing as a valid sacred support for meditation and ritual focus.

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

Bhakti is shown as adaptable and accessible: when elaborate arrangements are not possible, a devotee may still worship by creating a humble, reverent representation and contemplating the divine attributes (four arms, auspicious eyes, moon-like radiance).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects practical kalpa/ritual reasoning—using a sanctioned substitute (pratinidhi) method in worship procedure—showing how rites can be performed correctly even with minimal materials.