Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 36

Śeṣoditya-Sūrya-nyāsa, Soma-sādhana, Graha-pūjā, and Bhauma-vrata-vidhi

Devanagari script

ध्यात्वार्कं प्रयजेद्द्विव्यैर्मानसैरुपचारकैः । पात्रं ताम्रमयं प्रस्थतोयग्राहि सुशोभनम् ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

dhyātvārkaṃ prayajeddvivyairmānasairupacārakaiḥ | pātraṃ tāmramayaṃ prasthatoyagrāhi suśobhanam || 36 ||

Translation

അർക്കനെ ധ്യാനിച്ച്, ദിവ്യമായ മാനസിക ഉപചാരങ്ങളാൽ അവനെ പൂജിക്കണം. ഒരു പ്രസ്ഥ ജലം ധരിക്കാവുന്ന മനോഹരമായ താമ്രപാത്രം ഉപയോഗിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• ध्यात्वा: having meditated
• ध्यात्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; 'having meditated'

• अर्कम्: Arka (the Sun)
• अर्कम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रयजेत्: should worship/offer sacrifice
• प्रयजेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• द्विव्यैः: divine/excellent
• द्विव्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्विव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier of उपचारकैः)

• मानसैः: mental (performed in mind)
• मानसैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier of उपचारकैः)

• उपचारकैः: with services/attendances (offerings)
• उपचारकैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपचारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• पात्रम्: a vessel
• पात्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ताम्र-मयम्: made of copper
• ताम्र-मयम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ताम्र + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (ताम्रस्य विकारः/ताम्र-निर्मित); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier of पात्रम्)

• प्रस्थ-तोय-ग्राहि: holding a prastha-measure of water
• प्रस्थ-तोय-ग्राहि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रस्थ + तोय + ग्राहिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (प्रस्थ-परिमाणं तोयं गृह्णाति); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier of पात्रम्)

• सु-शोभनम्: very beautiful
• सु-शोभनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + शोभन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (सु-शोभन = अतिशय-शोभन); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier of पात्रम्)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Arka
• Surya

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that true worship begins with dhyāna (meditation) and can be performed through mānasa-upacāra (mental offerings), showing inner purity and focused devotion as central to ritual efficacy.

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

By prescribing mental offerings as “divine,” it teaches that devotion is not limited to external materials; heartfelt contemplation of Sūrya/Arka and inward service are valid and potent forms of upāsanā.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights technical ritual precision—use of a copper vessel and a specific measure (prastha) of water—reflecting applied procedural knowledge akin to Kalpa/ritual science and traditional measurement standards used in rites.