Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 23

Kalpa-Lakṣaṇa and Gṛhya-Kalpa: Classifications, Purifications, Implements, and Spatial Rite-Design

Devanagari script

उत्तरे सर्वपात्राणि प्रणीताद्यानि पश्चिमे । यजमानः पूर्वतः स्युर्द्विजाः सर्वेऽपि नारद ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

uttare sarvapātrāṇi praṇītādyāni paścime | yajamānaḥ pūrvataḥ syurdvijāḥ sarve'pi nārada || 23 ||

Translation

ഹേ നാരദാ! എല്ലാ യാഗപാത്രങ്ങളും വടക്കോട്ട് വെക്കണം; പ്രണീതജലം മുതലായവ പടിഞ്ഞാറിൽ. യജമാനൻ കിഴക്കോട്ട് മുഖം തിരിച്ച് ഇരിക്കണം; എല്ലാ ദ്വിജരും അങ്ങനെ തന്നെ.

Word by Word

• उत्तरे: in the north
• उत्तरे: अधिकरण (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; दिशिवाचक

• सर्व-पात्राणि: all vessels
• सर्व-पात्राणि: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (सर्वाणि पात्राणि); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd), बहुवचन

• प्रणीत-आद्यानि: beginning with the praṇīta (water) etc.
• प्रणीत-आद्यानि: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रणीत (कृदन्त) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (प्रणीतं आदिः येषां तानि); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; पात्राणि इति विशेषणम्

• पश्चिमे: in the west
• पश्चिमे: अधिकरण (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पश्चिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; दिशिवाचक

• यजमानः: the sacrificer
• यजमानः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यजमान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• पूर्वतः: in the east/at the front
• पूर्वतः: अधिकरण (Adverbial location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तद्धित-अव्यय)
• Form: दिशावाचक-अव्यय (adverb), ‘पूर्वदिशि/पूर्वभागे’

• स्युः: should be/should stand
• स्युः: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• द्विजाः: Brahmins/twice-born
• द्विजाः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; द्विजाः इति विशेषणम्

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: अव्यय-सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपेक्षार्थक

• नारद: O Nārada
• नारद: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (instructing Narada in ritual/disciplinary procedure)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It emphasizes ṛta-like order in worship: correct directional placement and seating discipline make the rite harmonious, supporting purity of intention and steadiness of mind in dharma-oriented practice.

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

While primarily ritualistic, it supports bhakti through reverent precision—external order (proper arrangement and posture) is presented as a way to honor the sacred act and cultivate attentive devotion during worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is highlighted: the verse gives concrete instructions on the spatial arrangement of yajña implements (pātras, praṇīta-water) and the prescribed orientation of the yajamāna and dvija priests.