Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 44

Nityā-paṭala-prakaraṇa

The Exposition of the Nityā-paṭala

Devanagari script

श्मशाने चंडिकागेहे निर्जने विपिनेऽपि वा । मध्यरात्रे यजेद्देवीं कृष्णवस्त्रविभूषणैः ॥ ४४ ॥

Transliteration

śmaśāne caṃḍikāgehe nirjane vipine'pi vā | madhyarātre yajeddevīṃ kṛṣṇavastravibhūṣaṇaiḥ || 44 ||

Translation

Au lieu de crémation, dans le sanctuaire de Caṇḍikā, ou même dans une forêt déserte, à minuit l’on doit vénérer la Déesse, parée de vêtements noirs et d’ornements noirs.

Word by Word

• श्मशाने: in a cremation-ground
• श्मशाने: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्मशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• चण्डिकागेहे: in the house/temple of Caṇḍikā
• चण्डिकागेहे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चण्डिका (प्रातिपदिक) + गेह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative: 'of Caṇḍikā'), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• निर्जने: in a lonely (place)
• निर्जने: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective) to 'विपिने' (or implied स्थान)

• विपिने: in a forest
• विपिने: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विपिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध-बोधक (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/सम्भावना (particle: 'also/even')

• वा: or
• वा: विकल्प (Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• मध्यरात्रे: at midnight
• मध्यरात्रे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्यरात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• यजेत्: should worship/sacrifice
• यजेत्: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• देवीं: the Goddess
• देवीं: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• कृष्णवस्त्रविभूषणैः: with black garments and ornaments
• कृष्णवस्त्रविभूषणैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + विभूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-समाससमूह (determinative: 'black garments and ornaments' as qualifying instruments), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

Speaker

Narada (instructional narration within the teaching flow)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Devī
• Caṇḍikā

FAQs

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

It highlights a specific worship-setting (place and time) meant for intense, inward-focused Devī-upāsanā—solitude (forest), liminality (cremation-ground), and the charged midnight hour—emphasizing disciplined ritual intent over ordinary comfort.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as unwavering, rule-based worship (yajet) of the Devī, showing that devotion can require austerity, fearlessness, and single-pointed attention, performed according to prescribed conditions.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa/ritual-vidhi is implied: selecting the proper deśa (place), kāla (time—midnight), and veṣa (ritual attire—black garments/ornaments) as part of correct worship procedure.