Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 153

Nityā-paṭala-prakaraṇa

The Exposition of the Nityā-paṭala

Devanagari script

कैरवैर्मल्लिकाकुंदमधूकैरिंदिराप्तये । अशोकैः पाटलैर्विल्वैर्जातीविकंकतैः सितैः ॥ १५३ ॥

Transliteration

kairavairmallikākuṃdamadhūkairiṃdirāptaye | aśokaiḥ pāṭalairvilvairjātīvikaṃkataiḥ sitaiḥ || 153 ||

Translation

Pour obtenir la grâce d’Indirā (Śrī Lakṣmī), qu’on offre des nénuphars blancs (kairava), du jasmin mallikā, des fleurs de kunda et de madhūka; et aussi des aśoka, des pāṭala, des feuilles de bilva, du jasmin jātī blanc et les fleurs blanches de vikaṅkata.

Word by Word

• कैरवैः: with white lotuses (kairava)
• कैरवैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कैरव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• मल्लिका-कुन्द-मधूकैः: with jasmine, kunda, and madhūka
• मल्लिका-कुन्द-मधूकैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मल्लिका (प्रातिपदिक) + कुन्द (प्रातिपदिक) + मधूक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहार-द्वन्द्व), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (jasmine, kunda, madhūka flowers)

• इन्दिरा-आप्तये: for attaining Lakshmi (prosperity)
• इन्दिरा-आप्तये: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्दिरा (प्रातिपदिक) + आप्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (for the attainment of Lakṣmī/prosperity)

• अशोकैः: with aśoka flowers
• अशोकैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अशोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• पाटलैः: with pāṭala flowers
• पाटलैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाटल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• विल्वैः: with bilva (flowers/leaves)
• विल्वैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विल्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• जाती-विकङ्कतैः: with jāti and vikaṅkata (flowers)
• जाती-विकङ्कतैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाती (प्रातिपदिक) + विकङ्कत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहार-द्वन्द्व), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (jāti and vikaṅkata)

• सितैः: white
• सितैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सित (प्रातिपदिक/विशेषण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying the flowers as white)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical/ritual register within Book 1.3)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Indira (Lakshmi)

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that specific auspicious, predominantly white offerings—flowers and bilva—are prescribed as sacred supports (upacāra) for invoking Indirā (Śrī Lakṣmī), symbolizing purity and prosperity aligned with dhārmic worship.

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

It frames bhakti as expressed through careful, reverent pūjā—choosing pure and pleasing offerings for the deity—showing that devotion is practiced through disciplined ritual attention and heartfelt intention to gain Lakṣmī’s grace.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects ritual-technical knowledge: selecting appropriate dravya (materials) and upacāra (offerings) by qualities like color and auspiciousness—an applied, procedural aspect of śrauta/smārta-style worship guidance found in Vedāṅga-oriented sections.