Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 54

Śrāddha-prayoga: Niyama, Brāhmaṇa-parīkṣā, Kutapa-kāla, Tithi-nyāya, and Vaiṣṇava-phala

Devanagari script

तथैव भ्रातरस्तत्र लौकिकाग्नावपि स्थिताः । उपासनान्गौ दूरस्थे समीपेभ्रातरि स्थइते ॥ ५४ ॥

Transliteration

tathaiva bhrātarastatra laukikāgnāvapi sthitāḥ | upāsanāngau dūrasthe samīpebhrātari sthaite || 54 ||

Translation

Demikian pula, para saudara tetap berjaga di dekat api biasa (api rumah tangga). Tata-penunjang pemujaan diatur—sebagian berada jauh, sedangkan saudara yang dekat tetap pada tempatnya.

Word by Word

• tathā: thus
• tathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb ‘thus’

• eva: indeed
• eva: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, emphatic particle

• bhrātaraḥ: brothers
• bhrātaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Plural

• tatra: there
• tatra: Deśa/Adhikaraṇa (देश/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb of place

• laukika-agnau: in the ordinary fire
• laukika-agnau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: laukika + agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th), Singular; ‘in the worldly/common fire’

• api: also/even
• api: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle ‘also/even’

• sthitāḥ: being situated
• sthitāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sthā (धातु)
• Form: Past active participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Plural; ‘standing/being situated’

• upāsanā-agnau: in the worship-fire
• upāsanā-agnau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upāsanā + agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th), Singular; ‘in the worship-fire (fire used for upāsanā)’

• dūra-sthe: when (it is) far away
• dūra-sthe: Kāla/Adhikaraṇa (काल/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dūra + stha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative (7th), Singular; ‘when (it is) far away’ (locative absolute sense)

• samīpe: near
• samīpe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samīpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th), Singular; ‘near’

• bhrātari: when a brother is near
• bhrātari: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th), Singular; ‘in/with the brother (being) near’ (locative absolute sense)

• sthaite: the two are present/stand
• sthaite: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sthā (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Dual (द्विवचन), Ātmanepada; ‘they two stand/are present’ (reading per given IAST)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada; Sanaka brothers context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara
• Sanaka (Kumaras)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes disciplined presence and correct positioning in worship—even with the ordinary household fire—showing that steadiness (sthiti) and proper order are themselves spiritual supports for upāsanā.

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

By highlighting the “limbs of worship” (upāsanāṅgāḥ), it frames devotion as structured service—bhakti expressed through attentive, orderly practice rather than mere emotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa/ritual procedure is implied: arranging auxiliary acts and attendants around the fire and maintaining prescribed proximity and roles during worship.