Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 98

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

Devanagari script

जपेद्द्वादशलक्षाणि तत्सहस्रं सितांबुजैः । नागचंपकपुष्पैर्वा जुहुयात्साधकोत्तमः ॥ ९८ ॥

Transliteration

japeddvādaśalakṣāṇi tatsahasraṃ sitāṃbujaiḥ | nāgacaṃpakapuṣpairvā juhuyātsādhakottamaḥ || 98 ||

Translation

Le meilleur des sādhaka doit accomplir le japa à hauteur de douze lakṣa (1 200 000 répétitions) ; puis offrir mille oblations (homa) avec des lotus blancs — ou bien avec des fleurs de nāga-campaka.

Word by Word

• जपेत्: should recite (japa)
• जपेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), तृतीयपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• द्वादशलक्षाणि: twelve lakhs (1,200,000)
• द्वादशलक्षाणि: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादशलक्ष (प्रातिपदिक: द्वादश + लक्ष)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक-समास

• तत्: that (same)
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (सहस्रम्)

• सहस्रम्: a thousand
• सहस्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सिताम्बुजैः: with white lotuses
• सिताम्बुजैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिताम्बुज (प्रातिपदिक: सित + अम्बुज)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; करणार्थे

• नागचम्पकपुष्पैः: with nāgacampaka flowers
• नागचम्पकपुष्पैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नागचम्पकपुष्प (प्रातिपदिक: नागचम्पक + पुष्प)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; करणार्थे

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• जुहुयात्: should offer into fire (homa)
• जुहुयात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हु (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), तृतीयपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• साधकोत्तमः: the best practitioner
• साधकोत्तमः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधकोत्तम (प्रातिपदिक: साधक + उत्तम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तृपद

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It prescribes a complete sādhana sequence—intensive mantra-japa followed by homa—showing that inner repetition is to be sealed by an outward sacrificial offering, indicating steadiness, purity, and completion of the practice.

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

By emphasizing sustained japa and reverential offerings (lotus or fragrant flowers) into the sacred fire, it frames devotion as disciplined remembrance of the deity through mantra along with devotional upacāra expressed in ritual form.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual procedure and quantified practice—fixed japa counts (lakṣa-saṅkhyā) and homa with specific dravyas—reflecting applied Vedic ritual science (kalpa-oriented discipline) within a technical, practice-focused context.