Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 68

The Description of the Worship of Rāma and Others

Rāmādi-pūjā-vidhāna

Devanagari script

अयोध्यानगरे रत्नचित्रसौवर्णमण्डपे । मंदारपुष्पैराबद्धविताने तोरणान्विते ॥ ६८ ॥

Transliteration

ayodhyānagare ratnacitrasauvarṇamaṇḍape | maṃdārapuṣpairābaddhavitāne toraṇānvite || 68 ||

Translation

അയോധ്യാനഗരത്തിൽ രത്നചിത്രങ്ങളാൽ അലങ്കരിച്ച സ്വർണമണ്ഡപം ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു; മന്ദാരപുഷ്പങ്ങളാൽ ബന്ധിച്ച വിതാനവും തോരണങ്ങളുമുള്ള ആ പുണ്യ മണ്ഡപം ദീപ്തമായി ശോഭിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• अयोध्या-नगरे: in the city of Ayodhyā
• अयोध्या-नगरे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अयोध्या + नगर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): ‘अयोध्यायाः नगरम्’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; locative singular

• रत्न-चित्र-सौवर्ण-मण्डपे: in the gem-adorned golden pavilion
• रत्न-चित्र-सौवर्ण-मण्डपे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्न + चित्र + सौवर्ण + मण्डप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-कर्मधारय (descriptive): ‘रत्नैः चित्रः सौवर्णः मण्डपः’; पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; locative singular

• मन्दार-पुष्पैः: with mandāra flowers
• मन्दार-पुष्पैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्दार + पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘मन्दारस्य पुष्पाणि’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; instrumental plural

• आबद्ध-विताने: having a canopy fastened/arranged
• आबद्ध-विताने: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + बन्ध् (धातु) + वितान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘आबद्धः वितानः यस्मिन्’; ‘आबद्ध’ = क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) from √बन्ध्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; agrees with मण्डपे

• तोरण-अन्विते: adorned with gateways/arches
• तोरण-अन्विते: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तोरण + अन्वित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: ‘तोरणैः अन्वितः’; ‘अन्वित’ = क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) from √इ (anu+√i ‘to go/attend’ → ‘endowed with’); सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; agrees with मण्डपे

Speaker

Narada (narrative description within the dialogue context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Ayodhya
• Mandara

FAQs

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

It sanctifies the worship context by describing a properly adorned maṇḍapa—an outer expression of inner reverence—where sacred discourse or pūjā becomes auspicious and dharma-aligned.

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

Bhakti is supported by seva expressed through orderly, beautiful preparation—flowers, canopy, and toranas—showing devotion not only in thought but also in careful ritual hospitality to the Divine.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects kalpa/ritual praxis (a Vedāṅga-associated domain): arranging the maṇḍapa, vitāna (canopy), and torana according to auspicious ceremonial standards used in pūjā and vrata settings.