Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 16

The Exposition of the Contents (Anukramaṇī) of the Bhaviṣya Purāṇa

Devanagari script

वाचकं पुस्तकं चापि पूजयित्वा विधानतः । गंधाद्यैर्भोज्यभक्ष्यैश्च कृत्वा नीराजनादिकम् ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

vācakaṃ pustakaṃ cāpi pūjayitvā vidhānataḥ | gaṃdhādyairbhojyabhakṣyaiśca kṛtvā nīrājanādikam || 16 ||

Translation

定められた作法に従い、読誦者と聖なる書巻の双方を礼拝し、香などを供え、調理した食物と供物を添えて、アーラティ（ārati）ならびに関連の儀礼を行うべきである。

Word by Word

• वाचकम्: the reciter/reader
• वाचकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाचक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘reader/reciter’ (object of honoring)

• पुस्तकम्: the book
• पुस्तकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुस्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘book’ (object of honoring)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थ-निपात (particle) ‘also/even’

• पूजयित्वा: having honored
• पूजयित्वा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having worshipped/honored’

• विधानतः: according to the prescribed procedure
• विधानतः: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधानतस् (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त; ‘according to rule/prescription’

• गन्धाद्यैः: with perfumes and the like
• गन्धाद्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध-आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; (गन्धः आदिः येषाम्) ‘with perfumes etc.’

• भोज्यभक्ष्यैः: with (prepared) foods and eatables
• भोज्यभक्ष्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोज्य-भक्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व; ‘with foods and edibles’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• कृत्वा: having performed
• कृत्वा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having done’

• नीराजनादिकम्: ārati and related rites
• नीराजनादिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नीराजन-आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (नीराजनं आदिः यस्य) ‘ārati etc.’ (object of ‘having done’)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It teaches that scripture is to be approached as sacred—honoring both the text and the one who transmits it—so that listening/recitation becomes a consecrated act of dharma and devotion rather than mere reading.

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

By prescribing worship, offerings, and ārati around the act of recitation, the verse frames hearing and teaching Purāṇas as bhakti-sādhana—devotion expressed through reverent service (seva) to the word of the tradition.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects ritual procedure (kalpa-style vidhi): correct sequencing of pūjā, naivedya (food offerings), and nīrājana (ārati) as part of a formal recitation setting.