Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18

The Description of the Worship of Rāma and Others

Rāmādi-pūjā-vidhāna

Devanagari script

यजेद्भरतशत्रुघ्नौ पार्श्वयोर्धृतचामरौ । धृतातपत्रं हस्ताभ्यां लक्ष्मणं पृष्टतोऽर्चयेत् ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

yajedbharataśatrughnau pārśvayordhṛtacāmarau | dhṛtātapatraṃ hastābhyāṃ lakṣmaṇaṃ pṛṣṭato'rcayet || 18 ||

Translation

ഇരുവശങ്ങളിലും ചാമരം പിടിച്ചിരിക്കുന്ന ഭരതൻ, ശത്രുഘ്നൻ എന്നിവരെ പൂജിക്കണം; പിന്നിൽ ഇരുകൈകളാൽ രാജഛത്രം ധരിച്ചിരിക്കുന്ന ലക്ഷ്മണനെയും അർച്ചിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• yajet: should worship
• yajet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yaj (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• bharata-śatrughnau: Bharata and Śatrughna
• bharata-śatrughnau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bharata (प्रातिपदिक) + śatrughna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), द्विवचन (Dual)

• pārśvayoḥ: on the two sides
• pārśvayoḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pārśva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), द्विवचन (Dual)

• dhṛta-cāmarau: holding fly-whisks
• dhṛta-cāmarau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhṛta (कृदन्त, धृ धातोः क्त) + cāmara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), द्विवचन (Dual); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (P.P.P.)

• dhṛta-ātapatram: holding a parasol
• dhṛta-ātapatram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhṛta (कृदन्त, धृ धातोः क्त) + ātapatra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (P.P.P.)

• hastābhyām: with (his) two hands
• hastābhyām: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), द्विवचन (Dual)

• lakṣmaṇam: Lakṣmaṇa
• lakṣmaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• pṛṣṭataḥ: from behind
• pṛṣṭataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pṛṣṭataḥ (अव्यय; pṛṣṭa + tas)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (adverb), ‘पश्चात्/पृष्ठतः’ (from behind/at the back)

• arcayet: should worship
• arcayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arc (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Shatrughna
• Lakshmana

FAQs

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

It teaches parivāra-devatā bhakti—honoring the Lord’s attendants (Bharata, Śatrughna, and Lakṣmaṇa) as integral to complete worship, expressing sevā (devotional service) through respectful roles around the deity.

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

Bhakti is shown as attentive service (upacāra) and humility: devotees worship not only the central deity but also the devoted companions who embody ideal service—chāmara and ātapatra symbolize reverence, protection, and loving attendance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects ritual procedure (kalpa-style upacāra in pūjā/arcana): placement around the deity and prescribed service implements (chāmara, ātapatra), emphasizing correct sequencing and iconographic arrangement used in formal worship.