Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 58

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

Devanagari script

देवीमुषां च पूर्वादौ दिग्विदिक्षु क्रमेण हि । जह्नुसूर्यसुते पूज्ये पादप्रक्षालनोद्यते ॥ ५८ ॥

Transliteration

devīmuṣāṃ ca pūrvādau digvidikṣu krameṇa hi | jahnusūryasute pūjye pādaprakṣālanodyate || 58 ||

Translation

En commençant par l’est, puis, selon l’ordre prescrit, à travers les directions et les directions intermédiaires, qu’on poursuive l’adoration. Et pour les vénérables—tels Jahnu et la fille du Soleil—qu’on entreprenne le lavage des pieds (pādaprakṣālana) en signe de révérence.

Word by Word

• देवीम्: the Goddess
• देवीम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचनम्

• उषाम्: Uṣā (Dawn-goddess)
• उषाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उषा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• पूर्व-आदौ: beginning with the east
• पूर्व-आदौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः (तत्पुरुषः; ‘पूर्वः आदिः यस्मात्’/‘starting with east’), पुंलिङ्गः/नपुंसकलिङ्गः, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचनम् (locative sense: ‘at the beginning, starting from the east’)

• दिक्-विदिक्षु: in the directions and intermediate directions
• दिक्-विदिक्षु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक) + विदिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः (द्वन्द्वः; directions and intermediate directions), स्त्रीलिङ्गे (दिश्), सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचनम्

• क्रमेण: in order; sequentially
• क्रमेण: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument; manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचनम्; प्रकार/रीत्या (manner)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः (particle/emphasis)

• जह्नु-सूर्य-सुते: in/for Jahnu’s daughter and Sūrya’s daughter (named deities)
• जह्नु-सूर्य-सुते: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जह्नु (प्रातिपदिक) + सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + सुता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः (तत्पुरुषः; ‘जह्नोः सूर्यस्य च सुता’ as name/epithet), स्त्रीलिङ्गः, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचनम्

• पूज्ये: (who is) to be worshipped
• पूज्ये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूज्य (कृदन्त; पूज् धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive; ‘to be worshipped’), स्त्रीलिङ्गे, सप्तमी, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifying the deity in locative)

• पाद-प्रक्षालन-उद्यते: engaged in washing the feet
• पाद-प्रक्षालन-उद्यते: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रक्षालन (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्यत (कृदन्त; उद्+यम् धातु)
• Form: समासः (तत्पुरुषः; ‘पादप्रक्षालने उद्यतः’), स्त्रीलिङ्गे, सप्तमी, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Jahnu
• Suryasuta

FAQs

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

It emphasizes disciplined, direction-wise order in worship (dik-krama) and the humility of honoring the worship-worthy through pādaprakṣālana, making reverence and right procedure integral to the rite.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as respectful service—approaching worship with orderly attention and honoring the venerable through acts like washing the feet, which cultivates humility and sincerity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual procedure tied to spatial orientation—performing acts in the proper sequence across directions (dik and vidik), a practical application of technical liturgical order used in formal worship.