Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 48

Mahāviṣṇu-Mantras: Aṣṭākṣarī, Sudarśana-Astra, Nyāsa Systems, Āvaraṇa-Pūjā, and Prayogas

Devanagari script

रक्ताजपीतकनकश्यामकृष्णासितार्जुनान् । कुंकुमाभं समभ्यर्च्येद्वहिरग्रे खगेश्वरम् ॥ ४८ ॥

Transliteration

raktājapītakanakaśyāmakṛṣṇāsitārjunān | kuṃkumābhaṃ samabhyarcyedvahiragre khageśvaram || 48 ||

Translation

ചുവപ്പ്, കപിശ, സ്വർണ്ണവർണം, ശ്യാമം, കൃഷ്ണം, നീലാഭം, അർജുനവർണം—ഇവയെ വിധിപൂർവ്വം അർച്ചിച്ച്, അഗ്നിയുടെ മുൻഭാഗത്ത് കുങ്കുമപ്രഭയായ ഖഗേശ്വരൻ (ഗരുഡൻ)നെ പൂജിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• रक्त: red (ones)
• रक्त: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (विशेषण)

• अज: goats
• अज: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• पीत: yellow (ones)
• पीत: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (विशेषण)

• कनक: gold
• कनक: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कनक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (compound-member; stem form)

• श्याम: dark-blue (ones)
• श्याम: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्याम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (विशेषण)

• कृष्ण: black (ones)
• कृष्ण: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (विशेषण)

• असित: dark (ones)
• असित: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (विशेषण)

• अर्जुनान्: Arjuna-trees / arjuna (plants)
• अर्जुनान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• कुंकुमाभम्: saffron-hued
• कुंकुमाभम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुंकुम-आभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (कुंकुम इव आभा यस्य)

• सम्-अभि-अर्चयेत्: should worship duly
• सम्-अभि-अर्चयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: उपसर्गाः सम्+अभि; विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• बहिः: outside
• बहिः: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहिः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• अग्रे: in front
• अग्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (locative adverbial)

• खगेश्वरम्: lord of birds (Garuḍa)
• खगेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग-ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (खगानाम् ईश्वरः)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Garuda

FAQs

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

It emphasizes fire-facing worship as a disciplined ritual setting and directs devotion toward the divine carrier Garuda, linking precise external procedure with focused reverence.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as reverential worship (arcana) of the sacred figure ‘khageśvara’ with careful observance—devotion made concrete through correct offerings and ritual placement before Agni.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects prayoga-style ritual instruction: specifying where worship is performed (before Agni) and using precise classifications (color/variety terms), aligning with Vedanga-oriented technical discipline used in rites.