Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 48

Nityā-paṭala-prakaraṇa

The Exposition of the Nityā-paṭala

Devanagari script

रक्तभूषांबरालेपमालाभूषितविग्रहाः । उद्याने निर्जने देवीं चक्रे संचिंत्य पूजयेत् ॥ ४८ ॥

Transliteration

raktabhūṣāṃbarālepamālābhūṣitavigrahāḥ | udyāne nirjane devīṃ cakre saṃciṃtya pūjayet || 48 ||

Translation

Après avoir paré l’effigie d’ornements rouges, de vêtements rouges, d’onguents rouges et de guirlandes, dans un jardin désert qu’on médite la Déesse au sein du cercle rituel (cakra), puis qu’on la vénère.

Word by Word

• रक्तभूषाम्बरालेपमालाभूषितविग्रहाः: whose bodies are adorned with red ornaments, clothes, unguents, and garlands
• रक्तभूषाम्बरालेपमालाभूषितविग्रहाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject, implied)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + भूषा (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बर (प्रातिपदिक) + आलेप (प्रातिपदिक) + माला (प्रातिपदिक) + भूषित (कृदन्त; √भूष्) + विग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (possessive: 'those whose forms are adorned with red ornaments, garments, unguents, and garlands'), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण to implied attendants/entities

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

• निर्जने: lonely/deserted
• निर्जने: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण to 'उद्याने'

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

• चक्रे: in/on a circle (yantra)
• चक्रे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• संचिन्त्य: having meditated upon
• संचिन्त्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (gerund/absolutive), अव्ययभाव; ‘having meditated/considered’

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

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Devi

FAQs

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

It teaches that effective worship combines inner contemplation (saṃcintya) with outer ritual order—purifying the setting (nirjana udyāna), establishing a sacred boundary (cakra), and offering symbolically appropriate items (red adornments) to focus devotion and invoke Devi’s presence.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through attentive preparation and heartfelt visualization of the Goddess, showing devotion as both meditative remembrance and reverent service through offerings and ornamentation.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects ritual science (kalpa/vidhi): choosing an appropriate place, arranging worship materials, and using a cakra as a structured ritual framework—practical procedural knowledge aligned with correct performance.