Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 11

The Description of the Worship of Rāma and Others

Rāmādi-pūjā-vidhāna

Devanagari script

ज्ञानमुद्रां दक्षहस्ते दधतं जानुनीतरम् । सरोरुहकरां सीतां विद्युदाभां च पार्श्वगाम् ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

jñānamudrāṃ dakṣahaste dadhataṃ jānunītaram | saroruhakarāṃ sītāṃ vidyudābhāṃ ca pārśvagām || 11 ||

Translation

അവൻ വലങ്കയ്യിൽ ജ്ഞാനമുദ്ര ധരിച്ചു, മറ്റുകൈ മുട്ടിന്മേൽ വെച്ചിരുന്നു; പാർശ്വത്തിൽ പദ്മഹസ്തയായ, മിന്നൽപോലെ ദീപ്തിയുള്ള സീത നിലകൊണ്ടിരുന്നു।

Word by Word

• ज्ञान-मुद्राम्: the gesture/seal of knowledge
• ज्ञान-मुद्राम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + मुद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ज्ञानस्य मुद्रा)

• दक्ष-हस्ते: in the right hand
• दक्ष-हस्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (दक्षः हस्तः)

• दधतम्: holding
• दधतम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धा (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्यय), परस्मैपदी; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘धारयन्तम्/दधत्’ = holding

• जानु-नीतरम्: reaching to the knee / knee-length
• जानु-नीतरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जानु (प्रातिपदिक) + नीतर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (जानु-नीतरम् = जानु-पर्यन्तं नीतम्/जानु-पर्यन्तम्)

• सरोरुह-कराम्: lotus-handed
• सरोरुह-कराम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सरोरुह (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सरोरुहस्य करः यस्याः)

• सीताम्: Sita
• सीताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• विद्युत्-आभाम्: having lightning-like radiance
• विद्युत्-आभाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विद्युत् (प्रातिपदिक) + आभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (विद्युतः आभा यस्याः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पार्श्व-गाम्: moving at (his) side / side-attendant
• पार्श्व-गाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पार्श्व (प्रातिपदिक) + गा (धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः; ‘गाम्’ = गा-धातोः वर्तमान-कृदन्त/कर्तरि (going), अर्थः ‘पार्श्वं गच्छन्ती’

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Sita

FAQs

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

It presents a dhyāna-style visualization: the jñāna-mudrā signifies awakened discernment, while Sītā’s lightning-like radiance and lotus-hands indicate purity and auspicious divine presence beside the deity.

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

By giving a clear contemplative form (ākāra) for remembrance, it supports bhakti through focused visualization—devotion becomes steady when the mind is anchored in sacred attributes like jñāna-mudrā and Sītā’s auspicious beauty.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects the practical use of mantra-dhyāna and iconographic cues (mudrā, posture, attendant deity) employed in ritual and contemplative practice—supporting correct visualization and recitation as used in śikṣā (proper chanting) and kalpa (ritual procedure).