Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 43

Mantraśodhana, Dīkṣā-krama, Guru-Pādukā, Ajapā-Haṃsa, and Ṣaṭcakra-Kuṇḍalinī Sādhana

Devanagari script

स्वेष्टदेवं यजेन्मध्ये दत्वा पुष्पांजलिं ततः । अग्निनैर्ऋतिवागीशान् क्रमेण परिपूजयेत् ॥ ४३ ॥

Transliteration

sveṣṭadevaṃ yajenmadhye datvā puṣpāṃjaliṃ tataḥ | agninairṛtivāgīśān krameṇa paripūjayet || 43 ||

Translation

മദ്ധ്യത്തിൽ സ്വന്തം ഇഷ്ടദേവനെ പൂജിക്കണം. തുടർന്ന് പുഷ്പാഞ്ജലി അർപ്പിച്ച് ക്രമമായി അഗ്നി, നൈഋതി, വാഗീശൻ (വാണിയുടെ അധിപൻ) എന്നിവരെയും പരിപൂജിക്കണം॥

Word by Word

• स्वेष्टदेवम्: one's chosen deity
• स्वेष्टदेवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + इष्ट + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd); एकवचन (Singular); स्व-इष्ट-देव = 'one's chosen deity'

• यजेत्: should worship
• यजेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative); प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person); एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th); एकवचन (Singular)

• दत्वा: having offered
• दत्वा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund); 'having given'

• पुष्पाञ्जलिम्: a handful of flowers
• पुष्पाञ्जलिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प + अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd); एकवचन (Singular); पुष्प-अञ्जलि = 'handful of flowers'

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; 'thereafter' (adverb)

• अग्नि: Agni
• अग्नि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd); एकवचन (Singular)

• नैर्ऋति: Nairṛti
• नैर्ऋति: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैर्ऋति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd); एकवचन (Singular)

• वागीशान्: the lords of speech
• वागीशान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक् + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd); बहुवचन (Plural); वाक्-ईश = 'lords of speech' (e.g., deities of speech)

• क्रमेण: in sequence
• क्रमेण: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd) एकवचन used adverbially; 'in order/ क्रमशः'

• परिपूजयेत्: should worship duly
• परिपूजयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative); प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person); एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical/ritual instruction context within Book 1.3)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Ishta-devata
• Agni
• Nairriti
• Vagisha

FAQs

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

It emphasizes disciplined worship (krama) and completeness in ritual: first centering devotion on one’s iṣṭa-devatā, then honoring supporting cosmic powers (Agni, Nairṛti, Vāgīśa) so the rite becomes orderly, protected, and efficacious.

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

Bhakti is focused through the iṣṭa-devatā at the center, while the subsequent worship of related deities reflects respectful integration of the wider divine order—devotion with reverence, method, and steadiness rather than randomness.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual procedure and sequencing (a technical, Vedāṅga-aligned discipline of correct performance): centering the main deity, offering puṣpāñjali, and then worshipping specified deities in a fixed order.