Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 31

Śeṣoditya-Sūrya-nyāsa, Soma-sādhana, Graha-pūjā, and Bhauma-vrata-vidhi

Devanagari script

स्वस्वनामादिवर्णाद्याः शक्तयोऽर्च्या विदिक्षु च । उषां प्रज्ञां प्रभां संध्यां ततो ब्रह्मादिकान्यजेत् ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

svasvanāmādivarṇādyāḥ śaktayo'rcyā vidikṣu ca | uṣāṃ prajñāṃ prabhāṃ saṃdhyāṃ tato brahmādikānyajet || 31 ||

Translation

中間方位（vidik）においても、それぞれの名の初音に始まる諸シャクティを礼拝すべきである。次いで、ウシャー（曙）、プラジュニャー（智慧）、プラバー（光輝）、サンディヤー（黄昏）を供養し、その後にブラフマーおよび他の神々を順次に礼拝すべきである。

Word by Word

• sva-sva-nāma-ādi-varṇa-ādyāḥ: beginning with their own names and letters
• sva-sva-nāma-ādi-varṇa-ādyāḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + sva (प्रातिपदिक) + nāma (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक) + varṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (‘beginning with their own names and letters’)

• śaktayaḥ: powers (Śaktis)
• śaktayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• arcyāḥ: to be worshipped
• arcyāḥ: Vidheyavisheshana (विधेयविशेषण/Predicate adj.)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: arcya (कृदन्त, यत्/ण्यत्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विधेयविशेषण—‘पूजनीयाः’ (to be worshipped)

• vidikṣu: in the intermediate directions
• vidikṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidiś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• uṣām: Uṣā (Dawn)
• uṣām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• prajñām: Prajñā (wisdom)
• prajñām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• prabhām: Prabhā (radiance)
• prabhām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• saṃdhyām: Saṃdhyā (twilight)
• saṃdhyām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃdhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) क्रमवाचक—‘thereafter’

• brahma-ādikān: Brahmā and others
• brahma-ādikān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (‘Brahmā and others’)

• yajet: should worship
• yajet: Kriya (क्रिया/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yaj (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Usha
• Prajna
• Prabha
• Sandhya
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It teaches that worship should be structured and complete: honoring subtle powers (Śaktis) tied to directions and mantra-syllables, then venerating time-junction divinities (dawn/twilight) before proceeding to higher deities like Brahmā—reflecting an ordered ascent from subtle forces to cosmic principles.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as disciplined upāsanā: devotion becomes effective when offered with proper sequence, attention to divine manifestations (Śaktis, dawn, twilight), and reverence for the cosmic order rather than random or purely emotional worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects ritual science tied to directionality (dik/vidik) and varṇa (syllable/letter) awareness—elements associated with mantra-usage and ordered worship procedure, aligning with Vedāṅga-style precision in rites.