Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 187

The Exposition of the Krishna Mantra (Kṛṣṇa-mantra-prakāśa): Nyāsa, Dhyāna, Worship, Yantra, and Prayoga

Devanagari script

अरुणैः कमलैर्हुत्वा पीठे पूर्वोदिते यजेत् । विलिप्य गंधपंकेन लिखेदष्टदलांबुजम् ॥ १८७ ॥

Transliteration

aruṇaiḥ kamalairhutvā pīṭhe pūrvodite yajet | vilipya gaṃdhapaṃkena likhedaṣṭadalāṃbujam || 187 ||

Translation

Après avoir offert l’homa avec des lotus rouges, qu’on adore sur le pīṭha préparé auparavant. Puis, l’ayant enduit d’une pâte parfumée de santal et autres, qu’on y trace un lotus à huit pétales (maṇḍala).

Word by Word

• aruṇaiḥ: with red (ones)
• aruṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aruṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन; agrees with kamalaiḥ

• kamalaiḥ: with lotuses
• kamalaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kamala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन

• hutvā: having offered
• hutvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: hu (हु धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) ‘having offered (in fire)’

• pīṭhe: on the seat/altar
• pīṭhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pīṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• pūrva-udite: previously stated
• pūrva-udite: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक) + udita (उदित कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; agrees with pīṭhe; ‘previously prescribed/mentioned’

• yajet: should worship/perform sacrifice
• yajet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yaj (यज् धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; parasmaipada

• vilipya: having smeared
• vilipya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: lip (लिप् धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) with उपसर्ग वि-; ‘having smeared’

• gandha-paṅkena: with fragrant paste
• gandha-paṅkena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandha (प्रातिपदिक) + paṅka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; ‘paste/mud of fragrance’

• likhet: should draw/write
• likhet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: likh (लिख् धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; parasmaipada

• aṣṭa-dala-ambujam: an eight-petalled lotus
• aṣṭa-dala-ambujam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + dala (प्रातिपदिक) + ambuja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; ‘lotus with eight petals’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

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 sanctifies worship by combining offering (homa-like oblation with lotuses), a consecrated seat (pīṭha), and a sacred geometric support (the eight-petalled lotus), aligning the mind and space for focused devotion.

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

Bhakti is expressed through careful, loving acts—offering auspicious lotuses, preparing a clean seat, and creating a lotus-maṇḍala—so the devotee’s attention becomes steady and reverential during worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights applied ritual-technical procedure: altar/seat preparation, use of gandha (fragrant paste), and maṇḍala construction (aṣṭadala-ambuja), reflecting the practical liturgical science used in pūjā and related rites.