Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 28

Gaṇeśa Mantra-vidhi: Mahāgaṇapati Gāyatrī, Vakratuṇḍa Mantra, Nyāsa, Homa, Āvaraṇa-pūjā, and Caturthī Vrata

Devanagari script

शूकव्रीह्यग्रहस्ता भूः पोत्री चक्रगदाधरः । देवाग्रे पूजयेल्लक्ष्मीसहितं तु विनायकम् ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

śūkavrīhyagrahastā bhūḥ potrī cakragadādharaḥ | devāgre pūjayellakṣmīsahitaṃ tu vināyakam || 28 ||

Translation

Bhū (la Terre) doit être figurée avec des mains tenant des épis de grain et de riz; l’on doit aussi montrer la louche rituelle sacrée (potrī); et placer le Seigneur portant le disque et la massue (Viṣṇu). Devant les dieux, qu’on adore Vināyaka avec Lakṣmī.

Word by Word

• शूक-व्रीहि-अग्र-हस्ता: having hands holding ears of grain and rice
• शूक-व्रीहि-अग्र-हस्ता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of भूः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शूक (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रीहि (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक) + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘हस्ता’ = हस्त-शब्दः (hand)

• भूः: Bhū (Earth-goddess)
• भूः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पोत्री: Potrī (a goddess/attendant deity named Potrī)
• पोत्री: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पोत्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• चक्र-गदा-धरः: bearing discus and mace
• चक्र-गदा-धरः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of विनायकम् by implication in the verse’s instruction)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + गदा (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (कृदन्त; धृ धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘धरः’ = धृ-धातोः क्तृ-प्रत्ययान्त (कर्तरि)

• देव-अग्रे: before the gods
• देव-अग्रे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative setting)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; अर्थे ‘देवानां अग्रे’ = in front of the gods

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• लक्ष्मी-सहितम्: accompanied by Lakṣmī
• लक्ष्मी-सहितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of विनायकम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लक्ष्मी (प्रातिपदिक) + सहित (कृदन्त; सह धातु/सह-योगे)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘सहितम्’ = with/accompanied by

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), emphasis/contrast

• विनायकम्: Vināyaka (Gaṇeśa)
• विनायकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विनायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Bhū (Earth)
• Viṣṇu (Cakra-Gadādhara)
• Vināyaka (Gaṇeśa)
• Lakṣmī

FAQs

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

It links material prosperity (Bhū/Earth, grain, rice, Lakṣmī) with ritual order and auspicious beginnings by placing Vināyaka’s worship before the assembled deities, while also invoking Viṣṇu’s protective presence (cakra-gadādhara).

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

Bhakti here is expressed as orderly devotion—honoring Vināyaka (obstacle-remover) with Lakṣmī for auspiciousness and then proceeding with deity-worship, while remembering Viṣṇu through his defining emblems.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects ritual-technical knowledge (Kalpa/śrauta-smārta procedure) by referencing the potrī (a yajña implement/role marker) and prescribing the correct sequence and placement in pūjā.