Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 180

Nityā-paṭala-prakaraṇa

The Exposition of the Nityā-paṭala

Devanagari script

उदुंबरस्य भृगुजे शम्या मांदेऽह्नि गोघृतैः । शुभ्रपीतसितश्यामवर्णाद्याः पूर्ववत्तथा ॥ १८० ॥

Transliteration

uduṃbarasya bhṛguje śamyā māṃde'hni goghṛtaiḥ | śubhrapītasitaśyāmavarṇādyāḥ pūrvavattathā || 180 ||

Translation

Au jour de Bhṛgu (vendredi), que l’on accomplisse l’homa avec le bois d’allumage śamī de l’udumbara ; et au jour de Manda (samedi), avec le ghee de vache. Les signes ou effets—blanc, jaune, pâle, sombre, etc.—sont à comprendre comme il a été dit auparavant.

Word by Word

• uduṃbarasya: of the udumbara (tree)
• uduṃbarasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uduṃbara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• bhṛguje: on Bhṛgu’s day (Friday)
• bhṛguje: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhṛguja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (weekday-name: Friday)

• śamyā: (the) śamyā (wood/plant)
• śamyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śamyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• māṃde: on Manda’s day (Saturday)
• māṃde: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māṃda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (weekday-name: Saturday)

• ahni: on the day
• ahni: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ahan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• go-ghṛtaiḥ: with cow-ghee
• go-ghṛtaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक) + ghṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• śubhra-pīta-sita-śyāma-varṇa-ādyāḥ: (those) of colors such as white, yellow, pale, dark
• śubhra-pīta-sita-śyāma-varṇa-ādyāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubhra + pīta + sita + śyāma + varṇa + ādi (प्रातिपदिक-समूह)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (adjectival) — ‘having colors such as white, yellow, etc.’

• pūrvavat: as before
• pūrvavat: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pūrvavat (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha/Anvaya (अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/उपसंहारार्थ (also/likewise)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada, continuing technical/ritual-astrological instructions)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Bhṛgu
• Manda

FAQs

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

It links ritual substances and timing (weekday deities like Bhṛgu and Manda) with observable signs (colours), showing that dharmic practice is performed with precise correspondences rather than random choice.

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

While primarily technical, it supports Bhakti indirectly by prescribing correct ritual order and purity (cow ghee, proper fuel), which in Purāṇic practice are considered supportive disciplines for worship and devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Jyotiṣa-style weekday mapping (Bhṛgu/Friday, Manda/Saturday) and Kalpa-style ritual procedure—selection of materials (udumbara-śamī, cow ghee) and interpretation of ritual signs (colour outcomes).