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

Dans le culte avec l’offrande d’arghya, on doit employer le mantra du cœur (hṛnmanu) commençant par « amukārghyāmṛtāya ». Là, on vénérera les seize kalās (rayons/parts sacrées) de la Lune.

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.