Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 21

The Description of the Worship of Rāma and Others

Rāmādi-pūjā-vidhāna

Devanagari script

चंदनाक्तैः प्रजुहुयाज्जातीपुष्पैः समाहितः । राजवश्याय कमलैर्धनधान्यादिसिद्धये ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

caṃdanāktaiḥ prajuhuyājjātīpuṣpaiḥ samāhitaḥ | rājavaśyāya kamalairdhanadhānyādisiddhaye || 21 ||

Translation

L’esprit concentré, qu’on offre dûment dans le feu des fleurs de jasmin ointes de pâte de santal ; et, avec des lotus, qu’on accomplisse l’oblation afin de soumettre le roi à son influence et d’obtenir réussite en richesses, grains et prospérités connexes.

Word by Word

• candana-aktaiḥ: smeared with sandalpaste
• candana-aktaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: candana (प्रातिपदिक) + akta (कृदन्त; √añj/añj- लेपन)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Bahuvacana; कृदन्त-भूतकर्मणि-क्त (past passive participle) ‘akta’ used adjectivally; समासः षष्ठी/उपपद-तत्पुरुष (candana-aktāḥ = candanena aktāḥ)

• prajuhuyāt: should offer as oblation
• prajuhuyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√hu (धातु; जुहोति)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (Optative/विधिलिङ्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd/प्रथम), Ekavacana; parasmaipada; ‘should offer (in fire)’

• jātī-puṣpaiḥ: with jasmine flowers
• jātī-puṣpaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jātī (प्रातिपदिक) + puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (puṣpa), Tṛtīyā (3rd), Bahuvacana; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (jātyāḥ puṣpāṇi)

• samāhitaḥ: being concentrated
• samāhitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-ā-√dhā (धातु) → samāhita (कृदन्त; क्त)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana; कृदन्त-क्त (PPP) used as predicate adjective; ‘collected/attentive’

• rāja-vaśyāya: for bringing the king under control
• rāja-vaśyāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Dative—purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāja (प्रातिपदिक) + vaśya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (vaśya as abstract/goal), Caturthī (4th/चतुर्थी), Ekavacana; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (rājñaḥ vaśyam = subjugation of the king)

• kamalaiḥ: with lotuses
• kamalaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kamala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Tṛtīyā (3rd), Bahuvacana

• dhana-dhānya-ādi-siddhaye: for success in wealth, grain, etc.
• dhana-dhānya-ādi-siddhaye: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Dative—purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhana (प्रातिपदिक) + dhānya (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + siddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (siddhi), Caturthī (4th), Ekavacana; समासः तत्पुरुष (dhana-dhānya-ādi-viṣayā siddhiḥ) with ‘ādi’ as ‘etc.’ inside compound

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical/ritual context, as part of Vedanga-oriented instructions)

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 presents a technical homa-prayoga where specific pure substances (sandal-anointed jasmine, lotus) are linked to intended results, emphasizing disciplined focus (samāhita) as essential for any ritual efficacy.

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

Bhakti is not explicitly taught here; the verse belongs to a technical section (Book 1.3) showing how ritual discipline and purity of offerings are applied for worldly aims, which in the Purāṇic framework are ideally subordinated to dharma and devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa-style ritual application (prayoga) within Vedanga-oriented material: selecting prescribed dravyas (offerings) for homa and performing them with mental concentration to target specific siddhis.