Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 40

Pañca-prakṛti-nirūpaṇa and Mantra-vidhi: Rādhā, Mahālakṣmī, Durgā, Sarasvatī, Sāvitrī; plus Sāvitrī-Pañjara

Devanagari script

ध्यात्वा पुष्पांजलिं क्षिप्त्वा पूजयेदुपचारकैः । लक्षषट्कं जपेन्मंत्रं तद्दशांशं हुनेत्तिलैः ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

dhyātvā puṣpāṃjaliṃ kṣiptvā pūjayedupacārakaiḥ | lakṣaṣaṭkaṃ japenmaṃtraṃ taddaśāṃśaṃ hunettilaiḥ || 40 ||

Translation

Après avoir médité et offert une poignée de fleurs, qu’on adore selon les upacāras prescrits. Qu’on récite le mantra six lakhs de fois, puis qu’on verse au feu le dixième de ce nombre en oblation avec des graines de sésame.

Word by Word

• ध्यात्वा: having meditated
• ध्यात्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having meditated’

• पुष्पाञ्जलिम्: a handful/offer of flowers
• पुष्पाञ्जलिम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प + अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (अञ्जलि), द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘पुष्पाणाम् अञ्जलिः’

• क्षिप्त्वा: having offered/placed (it)
• क्षिप्त्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षिप् (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having thrown/placed’

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: क्रिया (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Parasmaipada; ‘he should worship’

• उपचारकैः: with (ritual) services/attendances
• उपचारकैः: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपचारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• लक्षषट्कम्: six lakhs (times)
• लक्षषट्कम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष + षट्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः ‘लक्षाणां षट्कम्’ (= six lakhs)

• जपेत्: should recite
• जपेत्: क्रिया (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Parasmaipada

• मन्त्रम्: the mantra
• मन्त्रम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तत्: that/its
• तत्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally with दशांशम्

• दशांशम्: a tenth part
• दशांशम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशांश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हुनेत्: should offer into fire
• हुनेत्: क्रिया (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हु (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Parasmaipada

• तिलैः: with sesame seeds
• तिलैः: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Speaker

Narada (in instruction mode within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue framework)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Mantra
• Homa
• Tila (sesame)

FAQs

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

It teaches a complete mantra-sādhana sequence—dhyāna (inner focus), pūjā (outer reverence), japa (mantra repetition), and homa (fire-offering)—showing that realization is supported by disciplined ritual completion.

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

By prescribing flowers, upacāras, and sustained japa, it frames devotion as steady remembrance and reverential service, culminating in homa as an act of surrender and offering of merit.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights practical kalpa-style ritual science: fixed japa counts, proportional homa (one-tenth), and the specific dravya (tila) used for oblations—core procedural knowledge for mantra practice.