Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 71

Gaṇeśa Mantra-vidhi: Mahāgaṇapati Gāyatrī, Vakratuṇḍa Mantra, Nyāsa, Homa, Āvaraṇa-pūjā, and Caturthī Vrata

Devanagari script

निधिप्रदीपां पापघ्नीं पुण्यां पश्चाच्छशिप्रभाम् । दलाग्रेषु वक्रतुंड एकदंष्ट्रमहोदरौ ॥ ७१ ॥

Transliteration

nidhipradīpāṃ pāpaghnīṃ puṇyāṃ paścācchaśiprabhām | dalāgreṣu vakratuṃḍa ekadaṃṣṭramahodarau || 71 ||

Translation

പിന്നീട് നിധിപ്രദീപാ—പാപഘ്നി, പുണ്യദായിനി—യെ, അതിനുശേഷം ശശിപ്രഭാ (ചന്ദ്രപ്രഭ)യെ ധ്യാനിച്ച് സ്ഥാപിക്കണം. ദളങ്ങളുടെ അഗ്രങ്ങളിൽ വക്രതുണ്ഡ, ഏകദംഷ്ട്ര, മഹോദര എന്നിവരെ സ്ഥാപിച്ച് സ്മരിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• निधि-प्रदीपाम्: treasure-illuminating (goddess)
• निधि-प्रदीपाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निधि (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रदीपा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative: ‘lamp of treasures’/‘illuminating treasures’), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• पाप-घ्नीम्: destroying sins
• पाप-घ्नीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + घ्नी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative: ‘sin-destroying’), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• पुण्याम्: holy, meritorious
• पुण्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• पश्चात्: afterwards/behind
• पश्चात्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/देशवाचक (adverb: ‘after/behind’)

• शशि-प्रभाम्: moon-radiant
• शशि-प्रभाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शशि (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative: ‘moon-lustrous’), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• दल-अग्रेषु: on the tips of the petals
• दल-अग्रेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दल (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative: ‘tips of petals’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), बहुवचन (plural)

• वक्र-तुण्डः: the curved-trunked one
• वक्र-तुण्डः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + तुण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (descriptive: ‘crooked-trunked’), पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• एक-दंष्ट्रः: the one-tusked one
• एक-दंष्ट्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + दंष्ट्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (descriptive: ‘single-tusked’), पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• महोदरौ: (the two) big-bellied ones / Mahodara (dual form)
• महोदरौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महोदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), द्विवचन (dual)

Speaker

Narada (in instruction/listing mode within the Vedanga/ritual-technical section, traditionally conveyed to/within dialogue with Sanatkumara lineage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Ganesha (Vakratuṇḍa, Ekadaṃṣṭra, Mahodara)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes purification and auspiciousness through ordered remembrance/placement of sacred names—especially sin-destroying (pāpaghnī) and merit-producing (puṇyā) forms—culminating in Gaṇeśa’s epithets for removing obstacles in ritual proceedings.

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

Bhakti is expressed here as disciplined worship: invoking divine names with specific qualities (moon-like radiance, sin-destruction) and honoring Gaṇeśa through his traditional epithets, aligning the devotee’s mind and rite toward successful, obstacle-free devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects a technical, procedural style typical of ritual instruction—sequencing, correct appellations, and placement/visualization—closely related to Kalpa (ritual procedure) and the precise use of names/forms as part of liturgical practice.