Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 37

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

Devanagari script

आत्मसंस्थमजं शुद्धं त्वामहं परमेश्वर । अरण्यामिव हव्याशं मूर्तावावाहयाम्यहम् ॥ ३७ ॥

Transliteration

ātmasaṃsthamajaṃ śuddhaṃ tvāmahaṃ parameśvara | araṇyāmiva havyāśaṃ mūrtāvāvāhayāmyaham || 37 ||

Translation

Ô Seigneur Suprême, Toi qui demeures dans le Soi, non-né et pur—je T’invoque dans cette icône sacrée, comme le feu qu’on allume et qui se révèle dans la forêt.

Word by Word

• आत्मसंस्थम्: abiding in the Self
• आत्मसंस्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्मन् + संस्थ (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्ताधार)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषणम्—(accusative singular neuter)

• अजम्: unborn
• अजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्—(accusative singular masculine)

• शुद्धम्: pure
• शुद्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्—(accusative singular masculine)

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम—(2nd case singular)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम—(1st case singular)

• परमेश्वर: O Supreme Lord
• परमेश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (vocative singular masculine)

• अरण्याम्: into a forest
• अरण्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (accusative singular feminine)

• इव: like
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• हव्याशम्: fire (eater of oblations)
• हव्याशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हव्य + आश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (accusative singular masculine)

• मूर्तौ: in the image/form
• मूर्तौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (locative singular feminine)

• आवाहयामि: I invoke
• आवाहयामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + वह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; (I invoke)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम—(1st case singular; पुनरुक्त-कर्ता)

Speaker

Narada (teaching a ritual formula for āvāhana/installation as part of Vedāṅga-linked procedure)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Parameśvara
• Havyāśa (Agni)

FAQs

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

It teaches that the Lord is inherently self-established (ātmasaṃstha), yet is compassionately approached through ritual invocation into a visible form, making devotion focused and accessible without denying the Lord’s transcendence.

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

By inviting the pure, unborn Supreme into a mūrti, the devotee creates a concrete center for reverence, surrender, and service—showing bhakti as an intimate, relational approach to the transcendent.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects applied ritual science—mantra-based āvāhana used in icon-worship—aligned with kalpa-style procedural tradition (prayoga), where precise wording and intention are essential to the rite.