Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 98

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

Devanagari script

रक्तप्रवालसंकाश जपाकुसुमसन्निभ । महीसुत महाभाग गृहाणार्ध्यं नमोऽस्तु ते ॥ ९८ ॥

Transliteration

raktapravālasaṃkāśa japākusumasannibha | mahīsuta mahābhāga gṛhāṇārdhyaṃ namo'stu te || 98 ||

Translation

ചുവന്ന പവിഴംപോലെ ദീപ്തനായവനേ, ജപാകുസുമംപോലെ സുന്ദരനായവനേ! ഭൂമിപുത്ര മഹാഭാഗ, ഈ അർഘ്യം സ്വീകരിക്കണമേ; നിനക്കു നമസ്കാരം.

Word by Word

• रक्त-प्रवाल-संकाश: O one resembling red coral
• रक्त-प्रवाल-संकाश: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रवाल (प्रातिपदिक) + संकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; पुल्लिङ्ग (addressing the deity); तत्पुरुष-समासः (रक्तप्रवालस्य संकाशः = like red coral)

• जपा-कुसुम-सन्निभ: O one like a hibiscus blossom
• जपा-कुसुम-सन्निभ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जपा (प्रातिपदिक) + कुसुम (प्रातिपदिक) + सन्निभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; पुल्लिङ्ग; तत्पुरुष-समासः (जपाकुसुमस्य सन्निभः = like hibiscus flower)

• मही-सुत: O son of Earth
• मही-सुत: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही (प्रातिपदिक) + सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; पुल्लिङ्ग; तत्पुरुष-समासः (महीया: सुतः = son of Earth)

• महा-भाग: O greatly fortunate one
• महा-भाग: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; पुल्लिङ्ग; कर्मधारय-समासः (महान् भागः यस्य/महाभागः = very fortunate/noble)

• गृहाण: accept (receive)
• गृहाण: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• अर्घ्यम्: offering (arghya)
• अर्घ्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्घ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Bhava (भाव/उक्ति)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नमः-प्रयोगे ‘ते’ इत्यस्य प्रति दत्तिः

• अस्तु: may it be
• अस्तु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative/आशीर्लिङ्गवत्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• ते: to you / your
• ते: Sampradana/Relation (सम्प्रदान/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

Speaker

Ritual reciter (worshipper) addressing Mars (Kuja/Mangala) within a Vedanga/ritual-astrology context

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Mahīsuta (Mangala/Kuja—Mars)

FAQs

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

It functions as a graha-stuti used in propitiation: by offering arghya with reverence to Mahīsuta (Mars), the practitioner seeks harmony with Mangala’s influence and aligns ritual action with dharmic order.

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

Bhakti here appears as reverential worship expressed through praise (stuti), humility (namo’stu te), and offering (arghya), showing devotion enacted through disciplined ritual rather than abstract contemplation alone.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Jyotiṣa (Vedanga astrology) and ritual procedure: identifying Mars by iconographic markers (red coral/hibiscus hue) and using a prescribed arghya-offering mantra for graha-śānti practice.