Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 80

Mantra-Māhātmya and Sādhana of Kārtavīryārjuna

Nyāsa, Yantra, Homa, and Dīpa-Vrata

Devanagari script

विमुंचेद्दक्षिणे पात्रमध्ये चाग्रे कृताग्रिकाम् । पात्रदक्षिणदिग्देशे मुक्त्वां गुलचतुष्टयम् ॥ ८० ॥

Transliteration

vimuṃceddakṣiṇe pātramadhye cāgre kṛtāgrikām | pātradakṣiṇadigdeśe muktvāṃ gulacatuṣṭayam || 80 ||

Translation

ദക്ഷിണ ഭാഗത്ത്—പാത്രത്തിനുള്ളിലും അതിന്റെ മുൻഭാഗത്തിലും—കൃതാഗ്രിക (കൂമ്പാര/കുഞ്ചിത അർപ്പണം) സ്ഥാപിക്കണം. തുടർന്ന് പാത്രത്തിന്റെ ദക്ഷിണ ദിക്കിൽ നാല് ‘ഗുല’ (ഗോളമുദ്രകൾ) വെച്ച് വിധി തുടരുന്നു.

Word by Word

• विमुञ्चेत्: should release/let down
• विमुञ्चेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-मुच् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• दक्षिणे: on the south (side)
• दक्षिणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; दिशिवाचक (in the southern side)

• पात्र-मध्ये: in the middle of the vessel
• पात्र-मध्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पात्र (प्रातिपदिक) + मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (पात्रस्य मध्ये)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction ‘and’)

• अग्रे: at the front/at the tip
• अग्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कृत-अग्रिकाम्: with the tip prepared
• कृत-अग्रिकाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय) + अग्रिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्तान्त ‘कृत’ + कर्मधारयः (कृता अग्रिका यस्याः सा = whose tip has been made/prepared)

• पात्र-दक्षिण-दिक्-देशे: in the region to the south of the vessel
• पात्र-दक्षिण-दिक्-देशे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पात्र (प्रातिपदिक) + दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक) + दिक् (प्रातिपदिक) + देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (पात्रस्य दक्षिणदिग्देशे)

• मुक्त्वा: having released/after placing
• मुक्त्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु) + त्वा (प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund/absolutive): ‘having released/placing after letting go’

• गुल-चतुष्टयम्: a set of four gulas (units)
• गुल-चतुष्टयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुल (प्रातिपदिक) + चतुष्टय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (गुलानां चतुष्टयम् = a set of four ‘gula’ measures/units)

Speaker

Narada (instructing in a technical/ritual context within Book 1.3)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

FAQs

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

It emphasizes disciplined, direction-conscious ritual order—showing that dharmic action is performed with precision, honoring prescribed placements rather than improvisation.

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

While not a direct bhakti verse, it supports bhakti in practice by insisting that worship and offerings are done carefully and reverently, aligning outer ritual exactness with inner devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual-technical knowledge: directionality (dik), vessel layout (pātra), and precise placement of prepared items—skills associated with procedural disciplines used in Vedic rites.