Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 29

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

Devanagari script

आलिंग्य सव्यहस्तेन वामे तांबूलधारिणीम् । धनदांकसमारूढां महालक्ष्मीं प्रपूजयेत् ॥ २९ ॥

Transliteration

āliṃgya savyahastena vāme tāṃbūladhāriṇīm | dhanadāṃkasamārūḍhāṃ mahālakṣmīṃ prapūjayet || 29 ||

Translation

L’enlaçant de son bras gauche, on doit vénérer comme il se doit Mahālakṣmī—tenant le tāmbūla (bétel) dans la main gauche et assise sur les genoux de Dhanada (Kubera).

Word by Word

• आलिङ्ग्य: having embraced
• आलिङ्ग्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ-√लिङ्ग् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), ‘having embraced’

• सव्य-हस्तेन: with the left hand
• सव्य-हस्तेन: करण (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (सव्यः हस्तः)

• वामे: on the left side
• वामे: अधिकरण (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘वामे (भागे/पार्श्वे)’

• ताम्बूल-धारिणीम्: holding betel
• ताम्बूल-धारिणीम्: कर्म (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ताम्बूल (प्रातिपदिक) + धारिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (महालक्ष्मीम्); उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (ताम्बूलं धारयति)

• धनद-अङ्क-समारूढाम्: seated upon the lap of Dhanada (Kubera)
• धनद-अङ्क-समारूढाम्: कर्म (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धनद (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्क (प्रातिपदिक) + समारूढ (कृदन्त, सम्-आ-√रुह् धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (महालक्ष्मीम्); तत्पुरुषः (धनदस्य अङ्के समारूढा)

• महा-लक्ष्मीम्: Mahālakṣmī
• महा-लक्ष्मीम्: कर्म (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + लक्ष्मी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महती लक्ष्मीः)

• प्रपूजयेत्: should worship reverentially
• प्रपूजयेत्: क्रिया (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a ritual-technical context; framed as instruction within the Purāṇic dialogue tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara (auspicious love)

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Mahalakshmi
• Dhanada (Kubera)

FAQs

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

It presents a specific dhyāna/arcana detail: Mahālakṣmī is to be worshipped in an auspicious prosperity-form linked with Dhanada (Kubera), emphasizing dharmic wealth and śrī (fortune) obtained through reverent worship.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through precise upāsanā—visualizing the deity’s form and offering worship with attention to her attributes (tāmbūla, association with Kubera), turning prosperity into a devotional, sanctified pursuit rather than mere acquisition.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects ritual-technical knowledge used in pūjā-vidhi—iconographic specification and procedural instruction (how to conceive the deity’s posture and attributes during worship), a practical application aligned with kalpa-style ritual method.