Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4

The Narration of the Trayodaśī Vow Observed Throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

सिन्दूररजनीरागैः फलकेऽनंगमालिखेत् । रतिप्रीतियुतं श्लक्ष्णं पुष्पचापेषुधारिणम् ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

sindūrarajanīrāgaiḥ phalake'naṃgamālikhet | ratiprītiyutaṃ ślakṣṇaṃ puṣpacāpeṣudhāriṇam || 4 ||

Translation

ಸಿಂಧೂರ ಮತ್ತು ಅರಿಶಿನ ಬಣ್ಣಗಳಿಂದ ಫಲಕದ ಮೇಲೆ ಅನಂಗನ ಚಿತ್ರವನ್ನು ಬರೆಯಬೇಕು—ಮೃದು ಹಾಗೂ ಸುಂದರ, ರತಿ-ಪ್ರೀತಿಯುಳ್ಳ, ಪುಷ್ಪಧನುಸ್ಸು ಮತ್ತು ಪುಷ್ಪಬಾಣಗಳನ್ನು ಧರಿಸಿದವನು.

Word by Word

• सिन्दूर-रजनी-रागैः: with vermilion-and-turmeric colors
• सिन्दूर-रजनी-रागैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिन्दूर (प्रातिपदिक) + रजनी (प्रातिपदिक) + राग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural); समाहार/समुच्चयार्थ (with the colors of vermilion and turmeric)

• फलके: on a board/tablet
• फलके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फलक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• अनङ्गम्: Ananga (Kāma)
• अनङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• आलिखेत्: should draw/depict
• आलिखेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लिख् (धातु) + आ (उपसर्ग)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• रति-प्रीति-युतम्: accompanied by Rati and love
• रति-प्रीति-युतम्: Karma-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्मसमानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रति (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक) + युत (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण of अनङ्गम्; अर्थः—रतिप्रीतिभ्यां युतम् (endowed with Rati and affection)

• श्लक्ष्णम्: smooth/beautiful
• श्लक्ष्णम्: Karma-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्मसमानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्लक्ष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण of अनङ्गम्

• पुष्प-चाप-इषु-धारिणम्: bearing a flower-bow and arrows
• पुष्प-चाप-इषु-धारिणम्: Karma-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्मसमानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + चाप (प्रातिपदिक) + इषु (प्रातिपदिक) + धारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण of अनङ्गम्; अर्थः—पुष्पचापं इषून् च धारयति (bearing a flower-bow and arrows)

Speaker

Narada (instructional narration within the Adhyaya)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Ananga/Kāma-pūjā (lekhyārcana component)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Ananga (Kama)
• Rati

FAQs

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

It teaches a precise upāsanā-style visualization: the deity-form (here Ananga/Kāma) is ritually invoked through color, form, and attributes, indicating that intention (bhāva) and correct symbolic detail are central to efficacy in prescribed rites.

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

While not directly a Viṣṇu-bhakti verse, it reflects a bhakti principle: devotion often uses concrete supports (ālambana)—a properly conceived form, attributes, and mood—to steady the mind and focus reverence during a vow or observance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights kalpa-type ritual know-how (procedure and materials) and śilpa/iconographic precision—how to prepare a worship-support (phalaka) and depict defining marks (weapons/attributes) for correct ritual visualization.