Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 14

Devapūjā-krama: Ārghya-saṃskāra, Maṇḍala–Nyāsa, Mudrā-pradarśana, Āvaraṇa-arcana, Homa, Japa, and Kṣamāpaṇa

Devanagari script

तत्रार्कमण्डलायेति द्वादशांते कलारमने । अमुकार्ध्येति पात्रांते नमोंतस्त्र्यक्षिवर्णवान् ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

tatrārkamaṇḍalāyeti dvādaśāṃte kalāramane | amukārdhyeti pātrāṃte namoṃtastryakṣivarṇavān || 14 ||

Translation

അവിടെ ദ്വാദശാന്തത്തിൽ ‘തത്രാർകമണ്ഡലായ’ എന്നും തുടർന്ന് ‘കലാരമണേ’ എന്നും ഉച്ചരിക്കണം. അർഘ്യപാത്രാന്തത്തിൽ ‘അമുകാർധ്യേ’ എന്നു പറഞ്ഞു, അവസാനം ‘നമോ’ കൊണ്ട് മന്ത്രം സമാപിപ്പിക്കണം; അത് ത്ര്യക്ഷി-വർണ്ണരീതിയാൽ ലക്ഷിതമാണ്।

Word by Word

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): देश/प्रसङ्ग (there/in that context)

• arka-maṇḍalāya: to the sun-disc
• arka-maṇḍalāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arka + maṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (maṇḍala), चतुर्थी (Dative/4th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘अर्कस्य मण्डलम्’ = sun-disc

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyasaṃjñā (वाक्यसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण-निपात (quotative particle)

• dvādaśa-ante: at the end of twelve (syllables/units)
• dvādaśa-ante: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvādaśa + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (anta), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘द्वादशस्य अन्ते’ = at the end of twelve

• kalā-ramane: in/for ‘Kalā-ramana’ (epithet)
• kalā-ramane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kalā + ramana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘कलायां रमणः’/‘कलानां रमणः’ (textual epithet)

• amuka-ardhya: this arghya-offering
• amuka-ardhya: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amuka + ardhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘अमुकम्’ (so-and-so/this) + ‘अर्घ्य’ (offering)

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyasaṃjñā (वाक्यसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण-निपात

• pātra-ante: at the end of the vessel
• pātra-ante: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pātra + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘पात्रस्य अन्ते’ = at the end of the vessel

• namaḥ: obeisance
• namaḥ: Mantra-pada (मन्त्रपद)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (अव्यय/नपुंसक-प्रातिपदिक used indeclinably)
• Form: नमस्कारार्थक-अव्यय (salutation particle)

• antaḥ: within/inside
• antaḥ: Mantra-pada (मन्त्रपद)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: antar (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb/preposition): ‘within/inside’; here as mantra-sequence element

• tri-akṣi-varṇavān: the three-eyed, lettered/colored one
• tri-akṣi-varṇavān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri + akṣi + varṇavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: ‘त्रीणि अक्षीणि यस्य’ (three-eyed) + ‘वर्णवान्’ (having color/letters); epithet of deity/mantra

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada on ritual/technical recitation)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Surya (Arka)
• Arghya (ritual offering)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that devotion in ritual is expressed through precision—specific mantra segments, correct placement (beginning/end), and a reverential conclusion (“namo”), aligning the offering (arghya) with the solar divinity and mantra-structure.

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

Bhakti here is shown as disciplined worship: the practitioner honors the deity (notably the solar orb) through prescribed utterances and a humble ending of obeisance, making external action an inward act of surrender.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights mantra-prayoga and recitation-structure—counting/units (dvādaśa), placement within the rite (pātrānta), and technical descriptors of mantra formation (varṇa/akṣi), aligning with Śikṣā-style attention to sound and ritual procedure.