Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 24

Bhuvaneśī (Nidrā-Śakti) Mantra-vidhi, Nyāsa–Āvaraṇa Worship, Padma-homa Prayogas, and the Opening of Śrī-Mahālakṣmī Upāsanā

Devanagari script

मध्यपाग्याम्यसौम्येषु पूजयेदंगदेवताः । षट्कोणेषु यजेन्मंत्री पश्चान्मिथुनदेवताः ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

madhyapāgyāmyasaumyeṣu pūjayedaṃgadevatāḥ | ṣaṭkoṇeṣu yajenmaṃtrī paścānmithunadevatāḥ || 24 ||

Translation

Dans la région centrale, et dans les directions de bon augure (l’est et le nord), qu’on vénère les aṅga-devatās, les divinités des membres. Dans les sections à six angles (ṣaṭkoṇas), l’officiant connaissant les mantras accomplira le culte ; ensuite, qu’il vénère les divinités en couple (mithuna-devatās).

Word by Word

• मध्य-पाक्-याम्य-असौम्येषु: in the central, western, southern, and inauspicious (quarters/places)
• मध्य-पाक्-याम्य-असौम्येषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक) + पाक् (प्रातिपदिक) + याम्य (प्रातिपदिक) + असौम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (मध्येषु च पाक्षु च याम्येषु च असौम्येषु च)

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अङ्ग-देवताः: deities of the limbs (aṅga-deities)
• अङ्ग-देवताः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), बहुवचन; समासः (अङ्गानां देवताः)

• षट्-कोणेषु: in the six angles (of the hexagon)
• षट्-कोणेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + कोण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समास (षट् कोणाः)

• यजेत्: should worship/offer sacrifice
• यजेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• मन्त्री: the mantra-practitioner (officiant)
• मन्त्री: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमवाचक (afterwards)

• मिथुन-देवताः: paired (couple) deities
• मिथुन-देवताः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मिथुन (प्रातिपदिक) + देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), बहुवचन; समासः (मिथुनस्य/मिथुनरूपाः देवताः)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Vedanga/ritual-technical context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Aṅga-devatāḥ
• Mithuna-devatāḥ

FAQs

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

It teaches that worship is not only devotion but also precise sacred order: deities are honored according to their proper placement (center, auspicious quarters, geometric sections), reflecting cosmic harmony within the ritual space.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through disciplined, reverent service—worshipping auxiliary (aṅga) and paired (mithuna) deities in sequence—showing devotion guided by mantra and ritual structure rather than mere emotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual science tied to mantra-application and spatial arrangement (mandala/yantra geometry and directional placement), a technical feature aligned with Vedanga-style procedural instruction.