Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 39

The Description of the Worship of Rāma and Others

Rāmādi-pūjā-vidhāna

Devanagari script

सुदिने शुभनक्षत्रे सुदेशे शल्यवर्जिते । वश्याकर्षणविद्वेषद्रावणोच्चाटनादिकम् ॥ ३९ ॥

Transliteration

sudine śubhanakṣatre sudeśe śalyavarjite | vaśyākarṣaṇavidveṣadrāvaṇoccāṭanādikam || 39 ||

Translation

En un jour favorable, sous une demeure lunaire propice, en un lieu convenable exempt d’impuretés et d’obstacles, qu’on entreprenne des rites tels que vaśya (assujettissement), ākṛṣaṇa (attraction), vidveṣa (susciter l’inimitié), drāvaṇa (chasser), uccāṭana (expulser), et autres semblables.

Word by Word

• सुदिने: on an auspicious day
• सुदिने: कालाधिकरण (Kālādhikaraṇa/Temporal locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुदिन (प्रातिपदिक: सु + दिन)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; locative singular

• शुभनक्षत्रे: under an auspicious constellation
• शुभनक्षत्रे: कालाधिकरण (Kālādhikaraṇa/Temporal locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुभनक्षत्र (प्रातिपदिक: शुभ + नक्षत्र)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; locative singular

• सुदेशे: in a good place/region
• सुदेशे: देशाधिकरण (Deśādhikaraṇa/Spatial locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुदेश (प्रातिपदिक: सु + देश)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; locative singular

• शल्यवर्जिते: free from thorns/obstacles
• शल्यवर्जिते: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शल्यवर्जित (प्रातिपदिक: शल्य + वर्जित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; locative singular; past participle (क्त) ‘devoid of thorns/impediments’

• वश्य: subjugation
• वश्य: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक (compound member); ‘subjugation’

• आकर्षण: attraction
• आकर्षण: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकर्षण (प्रातिपदिक; from आ + कृष्)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक (compound member); ‘attraction’

• विद्वेष: causing enmity
• विद्वेष: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्वेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक (compound member); ‘enmity/discord’

• द्रावण: driving away
• द्रावण: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रावण (प्रातिपदिक; from द्रु/द्रावय)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक (compound member); ‘driving away’

• उच्चाटन: expulsion/uprooting
• उच्चाटन: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उच्चाटन (प्रातिपदिक; from उच्चाटय)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक (compound member); ‘uprooting/expulsion’

• आदिकम्: etcetera (and similar rites)
• आदिकम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; nominative/accusative singular; ‘and the like’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: raudra

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that ritual efficacy depends on dharmic alignment—proper time (day/nakṣatra) and proper place (free of defects)—showing the Purana’s Vedāṅga-oriented concern for correct conditions (muhūrta, deśa-śuddhi) in applied rites.

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

Indirectly: by contrasting technical, result-oriented rites with the Purana’s broader framework where higher aims are purified intention and dharma. Even when describing such practices, the text signals that discipline, purity, and right conditions must govern actions—principles that also support steady Vishnu-bhakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Jyotiṣa (Vedic astrology) and ritual protocol: selecting an auspicious day and nakṣatra, and choosing a suitable, unobstructed location (deśa-śuddhi/śalya-varjana) before performing specific mantra-prayogas.