Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 41

Devanagari script

वक्रतुंडादिकानष्टो दलमध्ये प्रपूजयेत् । दलाग्रेष्यर्चयेत्पश्चात्साधकश्चाष्टभैरवान् ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

vakratuṃḍādikānaṣṭo dalamadhye prapūjayet | dalāgreṣyarcayetpaścātsādhakaścāṣṭabhairavān || 41 ||

Translation

蓮華の花弁の配列の中央において、ヴァクラトゥṇḍaに始まる八尊を如法に供養したのち、行者は花弁の先端に八尊のバイラヴァを次第に礼拝すべし。

Word by Word

• वक्रतुंडादिकान्: Vakratunda and others
• वक्रतुंडादिकान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वक्रतुंड + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन; समासः—वक्रतुंडः (गणपतिः) + आदि = वक्रतुंडादयः, तेषाम् (of Vakratuṇḍa etc.)

• आनष्टः: (having) removed/cleared away
• आनष्टः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + नश् (धातु) → नष्ट (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/निष्ठा), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘आ-’ उपसर्गयुक्त; अर्थः—सम्यक् नष्टः/विनष्टः (completely removed)

• दलमध्ये: in the middle of the petal
• दलमध्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दल + मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः—दलस्य मध्ये (in the middle of the petal/leaf)

• प्रपूजयेत्: should worship
• प्रपूजयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; लकारः—विधिलिङ्; अर्थः—should worship

• दलाग्रे: at the tip of the petal
• दलाग्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दल + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः—दलस्य अग्रे (at the tip/front of the petal)

• इषि: on the filament/stalk
• इषि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; अर्थः—इषि/इषिका (a stalk/filament; here locative with dalāgre)

• अर्चयेत्: should worship
• अर्चयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; अर्थः—should worship

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—काल/क्रमवाचक (adverb of sequence)

• साधकः: the practitioner
• साधकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• अष्टभैरवान्: the eight Bhairavas
• अष्टभैरवान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्ट + भैरव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन; समासः—अष्ट (संख्या) + भैरव = अष्टभैरवाः (eight Bhairavas)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vakratunda
• Ashta Bhairava

FAQs

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

It prescribes a precise mandala-based worship sequence: first honoring a central set of eight deities (beginning with Vakratuṇḍa) and then invoking the eight Bhairavas on the petal-tips for protection, containment, and ritual completeness.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as disciplined upāsanā—devotion enacted through orderly worship, where reverence is offered in the correct placement and sequence, integrating devotion with exact ritual attention.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights technical ritual know-how—mandala/lotus layout, deity placement (center vs. petal-tips), and sequential pūjā—skills aligned with applied liturgical practice rather than narrative theology.