Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 104

Nityā-paṭala-prakaraṇa

The Exposition of the Nityā-paṭala

Devanagari script

तैलाक्तैर्जुहुयात्कृष्णदरपुष्पैर्निशातरे । मासादरातेस्तस्यार्तिर्ज्वरेण भवति ध्रुवम् ॥ १०४ ॥

Transliteration

tailāktairjuhuyātkṛṣṇadarapuṣpairniśātare | māsādarātestasyārtirjvareṇa bhavati dhruvam || 104 ||

Translation

എണ്ണ പുരട്ടിയ നിശാതരാ (രാത്രി വിരിയുന്ന)യും കൃഷ്ണദര പുഷ്പങ്ങളും കൊണ്ടു ഹോമം ചെയ്താൽ, ഒരു മാസത്തിനകം ആ ശത്രുവിന് ജ്വരരൂപമായ പീഡ ഉറപ്പായി സംഭവിക്കും॥১০৪॥

Word by Word

• तैलाक्तैः: smeared with oil
• तैलाक्तैः: Karana (करणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तैल + आक्त (प्रातिपदिक; आक्त = √अञ्ज्/अङ्ग्? क्त-प्रत्ययकृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/3rd), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण; समासः—तैल-आक्त (तैलेन आक्ताः = ‘smeared with oil’)

• जुहुयात्: should offer (as oblation)
• जुहुयात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हु (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘he should offer (in fire)’

• कृष्णदरपुष्पैः: with kṛṣṇadara flowers
• कृष्णदरपुष्पैः: Karana (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण + दर + पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/3rd), बहुवचन; समासः—कृष्णदर-पुष्प (कृष्णदरस्य पुष्पाणि = ‘flowers of kṛṣṇadara’)

• निशा: at night
• निशा: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण/7th), एकवचन (अर्थतः ‘at night’)

• तरे: for overcoming (it)
• तरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तर (प्रातिपदिक; ‘crossing/overcoming’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण/7th), एकवचन; ‘in/for overcoming’ (locative of purpose/context)

• मासात्: from/within a month
• मासात्: Apadana (अपादानम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (अपादान/5th), एकवचन; ‘from (within) a month’

• अदरात्: from affliction
• अदरात्: Apadana (अपादानम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदर (प्रातिपदिक; ‘pain/affliction’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (अपादान/5th), एकवचन; ‘from pain/affliction’

• तस्य: of him/that person
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध/6th), एकवचन; ‘of him/of that’

• आर्तिः: distress
• आर्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/1st), एकवचन; ‘distress’

• ज्वरेण: by fever
• ज्वरेण: Karana (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/3rd), एकवचन; ‘by/with fever’

• भवति: becomes/occurs
• भवति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘becomes/occurs’

• ध्रुवम्: certainly
• ध्रुवम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण); ‘certainly/indeed’

Speaker

Narada (within an instructional discourse transmitted in the Narada Purana’s technical/ritual section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

FAQs

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

The verse illustrates the Purana’s technical-ritual strand: specific homa materials are said to produce specific karmic results, emphasizing that ritual acts (prayoga) are treated as causally potent and precise.

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

This particular verse is not a bhakti-teaching; it belongs to a technical/ritual instruction set focused on ritual efficacy rather than devotion to Vishnu. Bhakti is better inferred from surrounding sections when the text pivots to worship, mantra, and dharmic intent.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights practical ritual procedure (homa/offerings and material specifications), aligning with applied Vedic ritual know-how—how particular substances are prescribed to generate particular outcomes.