Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

चत्रेंजुमंडलं प्रार्च्य तीर्थान्यावाह्य पूर्ववत् । गोमुद्रयामृतीकृत्य कवचेनावगुंठयेत् ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

catreṃjumaṃḍalaṃ prārcya tīrthānyāvāhya pūrvavat | gomudrayāmṛtīkṛtya kavacenāvaguṃṭhayet || 4 ||

Translation

Après avoir vénéré comme il convient le catreṁju-maṇḍala et, comme auparavant, avoir invoqué les tīrthas sacrés, qu’on le transforme en amṛta au moyen de la go-mudrā. Ensuite, qu’on le recouvre et le protège par le kavaca, le mantra d’armure.

Word by Word

• चत्रे: in/at the ‘catra’ (term unclear)
• चत्रे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter/Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; reading uncertain (चत्रे)

• इन्दु-मण्डलम्: the moon-circle (indu maṇḍala)
• इन्दु-मण्डलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्दु (प्रातिपदिक) + मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: इन्दोः मण्डलम् → इन्दुमण्डलम्

• प्रार्च्य: having worshipped
• प्रार्च्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त (absolutive), from √अर्च् with उपसर्ग प्र; ‘having worshipped’

• तीर्थानि: the tīrthas (sacred waters)
• तीर्थानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• आवाह्य: having invoked
• आवाह्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ+वह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त (absolutive), from √वह् ‘to bring/invoke’ with उपसर्ग आ; ‘having invoked’

• पूर्ववत्: as before
• पूर्ववत्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्ववत् (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (तुल्यक्रिया-वाचक अव्यय)

• गो-मुद्रया: with the cow-mudrā
• गो-मुद्रया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक) + मुद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; तत्पुरुष: गोः मुद्रा → गोमुद्रा

• अमृती-कृत्य: having made (it) amṛta/purified
• अमृती-कृत्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अमृत (प्रातिपदिक) + कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), denominal: अमृतं कृत्वा/अमृतीकृत्य ‘having made (it) nectar-like/purified’

• कवचेन: with (a) protective covering/mantra-armor
• कवचेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कवच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• अवगुंठयेत्: should cover/veil
• अवगुंठयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव+गुंठ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; parasmaipada; ‘should cover/veil’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within a technical/ritual teaching section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It describes a consecration sequence: worship of a ritual maṇḍala, invocation of tīrtha-powers, sanctifying the offering/water into ‘amṛta’ through mudrā, and sealing it with a protective kavaca—emphasizing purity, empowerment, and protection in Vedic ritual.

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

Though technical, it supports bhakti by prescribing careful, reverent ritual steps that prepare sacred substances and the worship-space—helping the devotee offer worship with purity and protective sanctity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights procedural ritual science: āvāhana (invocation), mudrā-application for amṛtīkaraṇa (consecration), and kavaca usage for ritual protection—skills aligned with technical liturgical practice taught in Book 1.3.