Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 41

Śeṣoditya-Sūrya-nyāsa, Soma-sādhana, Graha-pūjā, and Bhauma-vrata-vidhi

Devanagari script

प्राणायामत्रयं कृत्वा कुर्यादंगानि पूर्ववत् । सुधाबीजं चंदनेन दक्षे करतले लिखेत् ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

prāṇāyāmatrayaṃ kṛtvā kuryādaṃgāni pūrvavat | sudhābījaṃ caṃdanena dakṣe karatale likhet || 41 ||

Translation

Après avoir accompli le prāṇāyāma en trois temps, qu’on exécute comme auparavant les rites des membres (aṅga-nyāsa et autres) ; puis, avec de la pâte de santal, qu’on inscrive le « sudhā-bīja » sur la paume de la main droite.

Word by Word

• प्राणायाम-त्रयम्: three (rounds of) breath-control
• प्राणायाम-त्रयम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राणायाम (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/निर्देशार्थः (‘प्राणायामस्य त्रयम्’ = three prāṇāyāmas)

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/Prerequisite action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (कृ धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive)

• कुर्यात्: should perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (कृ धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• अङ्गानि: the (ritual) limbs/parts
• अङ्गानि: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन

• पूर्ववत्: as before
• पूर्ववत्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्ववत् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (manner adverb)

• सुधा-बीजम्: the ‘sudhā’ seed (bīja/mantric syllable)
• सुधा-बीजम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुधा (प्रातिपदिक) + बीज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘सुधायाः बीजम्’ = the seed-syllable of Sudhā/nectar)

• चन्दनेन: with sandalwood paste
• चन्दनेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन

• दक्षे: on the right
• दक्षे: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (करतले इति)

• करतले: on the palm
• करतले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: करतल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• लिखेत्: should write/inscribe
• लिखेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लिख् (लिख् धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It links breath-discipline (threefold prāṇāyāma) with mantra-body alignment (aṅga/nyāsa) and a tangible ritual marker (writing the bīja), presenting worship as purification, internalization, and precise procedure.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through disciplined upāsanā: the devotee steadies prāṇa, performs prescribed nyāsa, and uses the bīja as a devotional seal—showing devotion guided by mantra-vidhi rather than emotion alone.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights applied ritual technique—sequenced prāṇāyāma and aṅga-nyāsa with mantra-bīja usage—reflecting the technical, procedure-focused spirit associated with Vedāṅga-style discipline in practice.