Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 112

The Classification and Explanation of Yakṣiṇī Mantras

Kālī and Tārā Vidyās

Devanagari script

अलंकारचयोपेतं गणेशं प्राक्तमर्चयेत् । कपालशूले हस्ताभ्यां दधतं सर्पभूषणम् ॥ ११२ ॥

Transliteration

alaṃkāracayopetaṃ gaṇeśaṃ prāktamarcayet | kapālaśūle hastābhyāṃ dadhataṃ sarpabhūṣaṇam || 112 ||

Translation

D’abord, qu’on adore Gaṇeśa, paré d’un ensemble d’ornements : de ses deux mains il tient un crâne et un trident, et porte des serpents pour parure sacrée.

Word by Word

• अलंकारचय-उपेतम्: adorned with a collection of ornaments
• अलंकारचय-उपेतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अलंकार (प्रातिपदिक) + चय (प्रातिपदिक) + उपेत (कृदन्त; √इ (धातु) उप- + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; कृदन्त-विशेषण (उपेत = युक्त/समन्वित)

• गणेशम्: Gaṇeśa
• गणेशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गणेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्राक्तम्: the former/previous (one)
• प्राक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राक्त (प्रातिपदिक; √अञ्च्/अच्?—पूर्व/प्राक्-सम्बद्ध विशेषण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (गणेशम् इत्यस्य)

• अर्चयेत्: should worship
• अर्चयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• कपाल-शूले: in/with the skull and the trident
• कपाल-शूले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपाल (प्रातिपदिक) + शूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (कपालं च शूलं च)

• हस्ताभ्याम्: with (his) two hands
• हस्ताभ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), द्विवचन

• दधतम्: holding/bearing
• दधतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √धा (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ), परस्मैपदी; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (गणेशम्)

• सर्प-भूषणम्: snake-ornament (ornament in the form of a serpent)
• सर्प-भूषणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्प (प्रातिपदिक) + भूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सर्पस्य भूषणम्)

Speaker

Narada (instructional narration within a ritual/technical context, traditionally framed in dialogue with Sanatkumara)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Ganesa

FAQs

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

It teaches the proper commencement of sacred rites: worship of Gaṇeśa first, with a prescribed visualization, to remove obstacles and stabilize the ritual’s success.

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

It expresses bhakti through concrete upāsanā—approaching the deity with reverent attention to form (dhyāna/ākṛti) and sequence (pūrvakarma), making devotion disciplined rather than merely emotional.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual procedure and iconographic specification: the verse gives a practical pūjā rule (worship first) and a dhyāna-description used in correct rite-performance (kalpa/ācāra-oriented practice).