Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 177

Nityā-paṭala-prakaraṇa

The Exposition of the Nityā-paṭala

Devanagari script

पलायते वा रोगार्तः प्रणमेद्वा भयान्वितः । पलाशेध्मानले तस्य पंचांगैस्तद्घृताप्लुतैः ॥ १७७ ॥

Transliteration

palāyate vā rogārtaḥ praṇamedvā bhayānvitaḥ | palāśedhmānale tasya paṃcāṃgaistadghṛtāplutaiḥ || 177 ||

Translation

Que l’affligé par la maladie s’enfuie dans sa détresse, ou qu’il se prosterne, saisi de peur, on accomplira néanmoins le rite pour lui : en offrant le homa dans un feu allumé avec du bois de palāśa, au moyen de ses cinq parties (pañcāṅga) enduites de ce ghee.

Word by Word

• पलायते: flees
• पलायते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पलाय् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present indicative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (disjunctive particle)

• रोगार्तः: distressed by disease
• रोगार्तः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रोग + आर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष: रोगेण आर्त (distressed by disease)

• प्रणमेत्: should bow down
• प्रणमेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + नम् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (disjunctive particle)

• भयान्वितः: overcome with fear
• भयान्वितः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भय + अन्वित (कृदन्त; अन्वि/अनु+इ धातु-निष्पन्न)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: भयेन अन्वित (accompanied by fear)

• पलाशेध्मानले: in the fire (fed) with palāśa fuel
• पलाशेध्मानले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पलाश + इध्म + अनल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष: पलाशस्य इध्म (palāśa fuel) + अनल (fire)

• तस्य: of him/of that (person)
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-प्रयोग

• पञ्चाङ्गैः: with the five parts (of the plant)
• पञ्चाङ्गैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); द्विगु-समास: पञ्च अङ्गानि (five parts/limbs)

• तद्घृताप्लुतैः: drenched with that ghee
• तद्घृताप्लुतैः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of पञ्चाङ्गैः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् + घृत + आप्लुत (कृदन्त; प्लु/प्लव् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); तत्पुरुष: तेन घृतेन आप्लुत (drenched with that ghee)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical/ritual instruction sequence; dialogue framework traditionally with Sanatkumara)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna (compassion)

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka (fear)

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that remedial sacred-fire rites (homa) are to be applied compassionately even when the sufferer is overwhelmed—fear or illness does not cancel dharmic ritual support; the rite proceeds with proper materials and purity (ghee, prescribed fuel).

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

Bhakti is implied through surrender (praṇāma) and reliance on sacred means; even amid fear, turning toward the sacred (through reverence and sanctioned rites) reflects a devotional orientation, though the verse is primarily karma-kāṇḍa/ritual in tone.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to applied ritual science—selection of specific fuel (palāśa-edhma), use of ghee anointment, and procedural details of homa—elements aligned with Kalpa (ritual manuals) and broader Vedāṅga-informed practice.