Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 96

The Description of the Worship of Rāma and Others

Rāmādi-pūjā-vidhāna

Devanagari script

कटौ मेढ्रे पायुपादसंधिष्वर्णान्न्यसेन्मनोः । ध्यानार्चनादिकं चास्य पूर्ववत्समुपाचरेत् ॥ ९६ ॥

Transliteration

kaṭau meḍhre pāyupādasaṃdhiṣvarṇānnyasenmanoḥ | dhyānārcanādikaṃ cāsya pūrvavatsamupācaret || 96 ||

Translation

കടി, മേഢ്രം, പായു, പാദസന്ധികൾ എന്നിവിടങ്ങളിൽ മന്ത്രവർണ്ണങ്ങളെ മനസ്സിൽ ന്യാസം ചെയ്യണം. തുടർന്ന് മുൻപറഞ്ഞവിധം ഭഗവാനെ ധ്യാനിച്ച് അർച്ചനാദി കർമങ്ങൾ ആചരിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• कटौ: on the hip/waist
• कटौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; Locative singular

• मेढ्रे: on the genital organ
• मेढ्रे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेढ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th), एकवचन; Locative singular

• पायु: on the anus
• पायु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th), एकवचन; Locative singular (in compound context)

• पाद-सन्धिषु: at the joints of the feet
• पाद-सन्धिषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + सन्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (पाद), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th), बहुवचन; Locative plural; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पादानां सन्धयः)

• वर्णान्: syllables/letters
• वर्णान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; Accusative plural

• न्यसेत्: should place/assign (nyāsa)
• न्यसेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि√अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; Parasmaipada

• मनः: with the mind
• मनः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; Instrumental singular (means)

• ध्यान-अर्चन-आदिकम्: meditation, worship, etc.
• ध्यान-अर्चन-आदिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्चन (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd), एकवचन; Accusative singular; समासः इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (ध्यानं च अर्चनं च आदयः)

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

• अस्य: of him/of this (mantra/deity)
• अस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; Genitive singular

• पूर्ववत्: as before
• पूर्ववत्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्ववत् (अव्यय/तद्धित)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• समुपाचरेत्: should perform/observe
• समुपाचरेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+उप√चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; Parasmaipada

Speaker

Narada (teaching ritual procedure within the Vedanga/technical worship context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It emphasizes nyāsa—internalizing the mantra by mentally assigning its syllables to specific body points—so the practitioner’s body-mind becomes a fit seat for meditation and worship.

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

By directing the devotee to proceed from mantra-internalization (nyāsa) to dhyāna and arcana “as before,” it frames devotion as disciplined, continuous worship where inner recollection supports outward offerings.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A technical ritual method: mantra-syllable placement (nyāsa) and the prescribed sequence of dhyāna and arcana—procedural knowledge aligned with Vedic/āgamic worship practice.