Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 115
Nityā-paṭala-prakaraṇa
The Exposition of the Nityā-paṭala
शक्तयष्टगंधं संपिष्य कन्यया शिशिरे जले । तेन वै तिलकं भाले धारयन्वशयेज्जगत् ॥ ११५ ॥
śaktayaṣṭagaṃdhaṃ saṃpiṣya kanyayā śiśire jale | tena vai tilakaṃ bhāle dhārayanvaśayejjagat || 115 ||
Qu’une jeune fille broie dans de l’eau fraîche la substance parfumée appelée śaktayaṣṭa-gandha; qu’on la porte ensuite en tilaka sur le front. En portant ce tilaka, dit-on, on met le monde sous son influence.
Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within a technical/ritual teaching context)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It presents a ritual prayoga where a specific fragrant paste, prepared under stated conditions, is applied as tilaka—indicating the Purana’s interest in technical disciplines and ritual efficacy connected to bodily marks (saṃskāra-like external observances).
This verse is more prayoga-oriented than explicitly bhakti-oriented; however, tilaka is widely associated with devotional identity and sacred observance, and the passage reflects how external disciplines can accompany religious life in the Narada Purana’s technical sections.
It highlights practical ritual procedure (prayoga-vidhi): material selection (gandha), method (grinding into paste), conditions (cool water), and application site (forehead tilaka), reflecting technical instruction rather than narrative theology.