Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 196

Nityā-paṭala-prakaraṇa

The Exposition of the Nityā-paṭala

Devanagari script

क्षीराक्तैः कैरवैर्होमात्प्रोक्तं काममवाप्नुयात् । धान्यानि विविधान्याशु सुभगः स भवेन्नरः ॥ १९६ ॥

Transliteration

kṣīrāktaiḥ kairavairhomātproktaṃ kāmamavāpnuyāt | dhānyāni vividhānyāśu subhagaḥ sa bhavennaraḥ || 196 ||

Translation

En accomplissant le homa avec des fleurs de kumuda (nénuphar blanc) enduites de lait, on obtient le but désiré tel qu’il a été énoncé. On acquiert vite des grains variés, et l’homme devient chanceux et prospère.

Word by Word

• क्षीर-आक्तैः: with (flowers) anointed with milk
• क्षीर-आक्तैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षीर + आक्त (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from √अञ्ज्/√अक्त्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया (Instrumental, 3rd/तृतीया) बहुवचन; कृदन्त-विशेषण (‘smeared with milk’)

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

• होमात्: from the homa; by oblation
• होमात्: अपादान (Source/Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे पञ्चमी (Ablative, 5th/पञ्चमी) एकवचन; हेतु/कारणार्थे

• प्रोक्तम्: stated/prescribed
• प्रोक्तम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रोक्त (कृदन्त from √वच् with प्र-; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd/द्वितीया) एकवचन; विशेषण (of ‘kāma’)

• कामम्: desire; wished-for object
• कामम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd/द्वितीया) एकवचन

• अवाप्नुयात्: may obtain
• अवाप्नुयात्: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √आप् (धातु) with अव- उपसर्ग
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative) प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person) एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• धान्यानि: grains
• धान्यानि: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धान्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc., 1st/2nd) बहुवचन; (अत्र कर्मरूपे)

• विविधानि: various
• विविधानि: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचन; विशेषण (of ‘dhānyāni’)

• आशु: quickly
• आशु: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आशु (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/रीत्यर्थक अव्यय (adverb)

• सुभगः: fortunate
• सुभगः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुभग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st/प्रथमा) एकवचन; विशेषण

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st/प्रथमा) एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• भवेत्: would become
• भवेत्: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative) प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person) एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नरः: a man
• नरः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st/प्रथमा) एकवचन; (सः इत्यस्य विशेष्य/अप्पोजिशन)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada the specific ritual fruits in Book 1.3)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It presents a phala-śruti for a specific homa-prayoga, linking correct ritual substances (milk and kumuda flowers) with the attainment of a stated desire and auspicious prosperity.

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

While primarily ritual-technical, it implies devotion through disciplined offering (homa) and faithful adherence to śāstric injunctions, treating the act of oblation as sacred service that yields auspicious results.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure) by specifying the correct materials and method for homa, and the expected phala (result) described in technical ritual language.