Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 56

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

Devanagari script

रक्तं शक्त्यर्कविघ्नेषु पीतंविष्णौ सितं शिवे । तैलादिदूषितं जीर्णं सच्छिद्रं मलिनं त्यजेत् ॥ ५६ ॥

Transliteration

raktaṃ śaktyarkavighneṣu pītaṃviṣṇau sitaṃ śive | tailādidūṣitaṃ jīrṇaṃ sacchidraṃ malinaṃ tyajet || 56 ||

Translation

ശക്തിക്കും സൂര്യനും വിഘ്നനിവാരണത്തിനും രക്ത (ചുവപ്പ്) അർപ്പണം വിധേയമാണ്; വിഷ്ണുവിന് പീതം, ശിവന് ശ്വേതം. എണ്ണ മുതലായവ കൊണ്ട് ദൂഷിതം, ജീർണ്ണം, തുളയുള്ളത് അല്ലെങ്കിൽ മലിനം എന്നിവ ഉപേക്ഷിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• रक्तम्: red (cloth)
• रक्तम्: Karma (कर्म/object implied)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; adjective used substantively (cloth/color)

• शक्ति-अर्क-विघ्नेषु: in (worship of) Śakti, Arka (Sun), and Vighna (Gaṇeśa)
• शक्ति-अर्क-विघ्नेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्क (प्रातिपदिक) + विघ्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural; द्वन्द्वसमासः (शक्तिः च अर्कः च विघ्नः च)

• पीतम्: yellow (cloth)
• पीतम्: Karma (कर्म/object implied)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular

• विष्णौ: in/for Viṣṇu
• विष्णौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th), Singular

• सितम्: white (cloth)
• सितम्: Karma (कर्म/object implied)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular

• शिवे: in/for Śiva
• शिवे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th), Singular

• तैल-आदि-दूषितम्: soiled by oil etc.
• तैल-आदि-दूषितम्: Karma (कर्म/object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तैल (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + दूषित (कृदन्त; √दूष् धातु)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; तत्पुरुषः (तैलादिभिः दूषितम्)

• जीर्णम्: worn out
• जीर्णम्: Karma (कर्म/object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जीर्ण (कृदन्त; √जॄ/√जृ धातु)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular

• स-च्छिद्रम्: with holes/torn
• स-च्छिद्रम्: Karma (कर्म/object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: छिद्र (प्रातिपदिक) with स- (समासपूर्वक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; तत्पुरुषः (छिद्रैः सहितम्)

• मलिनम्: dirty
• मलिनम्: Karma (कर्म/object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मलिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular

• त्यजेत्: should discard
• त्यजेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (instructional discourse within technical/ritual section; traditional dialogue context with Sanatkumara lineage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Shakti
• Surya (Arka)
• Vighna (obstacles)
• Vishnu
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that devotion must be expressed with discernment (viveka) and purity (śuddhi): the offering should match the deity’s prescribed symbolism (color) and must be free from impurity or neglect.

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

Bhakti is shown as attentive service (sevā): offering what is appropriate (yellow to Viṣṇu, white to Śiva, red to Śakti/Sūrya and obstacle-removal) and avoiding careless worship with soiled or degraded items.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects ritual procedure and material-eligibility rules (dravya-śuddhi and upacāra-vidhi), a technical discipline aligned with Vedāṅga-style precision in correct performance of worship.