Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 128

Jyotiṣa-śāstra Saṅgraha: Threefold Division, Gaṇita Methods, Muhūrta, and Planetary Reckoning

Devanagari script

शिलातलेवसंशुद्धे वज्रलेपेतिवासमे । तत्र शकांगुलैरिष्टैः सममंडलमालिखेत् ॥ १२८ ॥

Transliteration

śilātalevasaṃśuddhe vajralepetivāsame | tatra śakāṃgulairiṣṭaiḥ samamaṃḍalamālikhet || 128 ||

Translation

നന്നായി ശുദ്ധീകരിച്ച ശിലാതലത്തിൽ വജ്രലേപം (കഠിന ലേപം) പൂശി, അവിടെ ശാസ്ത്രവിധിച്ച അങ്കുലി-മാനങ്ങളാൽ സമവും സമമിതിയുമുള്ള മണ്ഡലം (വൃത്തം) വരയ്ക്കണം.

Word by Word

• शिला-तले: on a stone slab/surface
• शिला-तले: अधिकरण (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिला (प्रातिपदिक) + तल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; locative ‘on the stone-surface’

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: सम्बन्ध (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण

• सं-शुद्धे: purified/cleansed
• सं-शुद्धे: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √शुध्/√शुच् (धातु) with सम्- + शुद्ध (कृदन्त; क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; कृदन्त-क्त ‘purified’; agrees with तले

• वज्र-लेप-इति-वासमे: in (the place) called ‘Vajra-lepa’
• वज्र-लेप-इति-वासमे: अधिकरण (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वज्र (प्रातिपदिक) + लेप (प्रातिपदिक) + इति (अव्यय) + वासम (प्रातिपदिक; reading uncertain)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; ‘in (a place) called vajra-lepa’; इति marks name/quotation

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Adverbial location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• शक-अङ्गुलैः: with Śaka-aṅgula measures (finger-units)
• शक-अङ्गुलैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक (प्रातिपदिक; possibly ‘Śaka’ measure/standard) + अङ्गुलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; instrumental ‘with śaka-aṅgulas (aṅgula-measures)’

• इष्टैः: approved/desired
• इष्टैः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इष्ट (कृदन्त; √इष्/√यज् in sense ‘desired/approved’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; agrees with अङ्गुलैः; ‘chosen/approved’

• सम-मण्डलम्: a symmetrical circle
• सम-मण्डलम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक) + मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारय ‘even/symmetrical circle’

• आलिखेत्: should draw/inscribe
• आलिखेत्: क्रिया (Verb/action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + √लिख् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘should draw/inscribe’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, in the Moksha-dharma/ritual-vidhi context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that sacred practice begins with purity and precision—purifying the base and creating a balanced maṇḍala establishes an ordered, sattvic space suitable for mantra and worship.

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

While technical, it supports bhakti by teaching careful preparation of the worship-space; disciplined external order (clean surface, correct measures) becomes an aid to steady, focused devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects śulba/measurement discipline and ritual procedure—using standardized aṅgula-based units and symmetry rules for constructing a maṇḍala as part of correct karmakāṇḍa practice.