Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 81

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

Devanagari script

इष्ट्वा गणेशं पृथुकैः पायसापूपमोदकः । नानाफलैस्ततोमंत्री हरिद्रामथ सैन्धवम् ॥ ८१ ॥

Transliteration

iṣṭvā gaṇeśaṃ pṛthukaiḥ pāyasāpūpamodakaḥ | nānāphalaistatomaṃtrī haridrāmatha saindhavam || 81 ||

Translation

പൃഥുകം (അവൽ), പായസം, അപൂപം, മോദകം, വിവിധ ഫലങ്ങൾ എന്നിവകൊണ്ട് ഗണേശനെ പൂജിച്ച ശേഷം, മന്ത്രവിദൻ ഹരിദ്ര (മഞ്ഞൾ)യും സൈന്ധവം (കല്ലുപ്പ്)യും അർപ്പിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• इष्ट्वा: having worshipped
• इष्ट्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव (having worshipped)

• गणेशम्: Gaṇeśa
• गणेशम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गणेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन (Accusative Singular)

• पृथुकैः: with flattened rice
• पृथुकैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-बहुवचन (Instrumental Plural)

• पायस-अपूप-मोदकः: (with) pāyasa, cakes, and modakas
• पायस-अपूप-मोदकः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पायस (प्रातिपदिक) + अपूप (प्रातिपदिक) + मोदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन (Nominative Singular); इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (enumerative: ‘pāyasa, apūpa, and modaka’)

• नाना-फलैः: with various fruits
• नाना-फलैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाना (अव्यय) + फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-बहुवचन (Instrumental Plural); कर्मधारय (various fruits)

• ततः: then
• ततः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमवाचक (then)

• मन्त्री: the mantra-reciter/priest
• मन्त्री: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन (Nominative Singular)

• हरिद्राम्: turmeric
• हरिद्राम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरिद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन (Accusative Singular)

• अथ: and then
• अथ: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अनुक्रम (and then)

• सैन्धवम्: rock-salt
• सैन्धवम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सैन्धव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन (Accusative Singular)

Speaker

Narada (teaching ritual/vidhi within the Vedanga-oriented section, addressed in the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Gaṇeśa-pūjā within Caturthī-related observance (implied by surrounding context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Ganesha

FAQs

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

It emphasizes completing rites with auspicious preliminaries—first propitiating Gaṇeśa with standard naivedya (offerings) and then proceeding with further ritual substances like haridrā and saindhava, signaling orderly, obstacle-removing ritual conduct.

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

Bhakti is shown through concrete acts of reverent offering (naivedya and fruits) and careful ritual sequence—devotion expressed as attentive worship before advancing to the main mantra-procedure.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects kalpa-style ritual know-how: prescribed offerings, the role of the mantrī (mantra-specialist), and the practical use of specific substances (turmeric and rock-salt) in a defined ceremonial order.