Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 116

Nityā-paṭala-prakaraṇa

The Exposition of the Nityā-paṭala

Devanagari script

शालितंदुलमादाय प्रस्थं भांडे नवे क्षिपेत् । समानवर्णेवत्साया रक्ताया गोः पयस्तथा ॥ ११६ ॥

Transliteration

śālitaṃdulamādāya prasthaṃ bhāṃḍe nave kṣipet | samānavarṇevatsāyā raktāyā goḥ payastathā || 116 ||

Translation

ശാലി അരിയുടെ ഒരു പ്രസ്ഥ അളവ് എടുത്ത് പുതിയ പാത്രത്തിൽ ഇടണം. അതുപോലെ, അതേ നിറമുള്ള കിടാവുള്ള ചുവന്ന പശുവിന്റെ പാലും അതിൽ ചേർക്കണം.

Word by Word

• शालि-तण्डुलम्: śāli rice grains
• शालि-तण्डुलम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शालि (प्रातिपदिक) + तण्डुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समास: कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषार्थे (शालिनः तण्डुलाः = rice grains of śāli)

• आदाय: having taken
• आदाय: पूर्वक्रिया (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावेन; धातु: √दा (ग्रहणे) उपसर्ग: आ

• प्रस्थम्: a prastha (measure)
• प्रस्थम्: परिमाण (Measure/Extent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; measure (a prastha)

• भाण्डे: in a vessel
• भाण्डे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• नवे: new
• नवे: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; agrees with भाण्डे

• क्षिपेत्: should put/throw in
• क्षिपेत्: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• समान-वर्णे-वत्सायाः: of (a cow) with a same-colored calf
• समान-वर्णे-वत्सायाः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समान (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + वत्सा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; समास: कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष (समानवर्णा वत्सा यस्याः सा = of (a cow) whose calf is of the same color)

• रक्तायाः: of a red (cow)
• रक्तायाः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; agrees with (गोः) implied

• गोः: of a cow
• गोः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• पयः: milk
• पयः: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: सम्बन्ध-निपात (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), समुच्चय/अनुक्रम (and likewise/also)

Speaker

Narada (teaching ritual details, in dialogue with Sanatkumara lineage context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Go (cow)
• Vatsa (calf)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes ritual śuddhi (purity) and precision: a measured quantity, a new (unused) vessel, and specifically qualified milk—showing that correct materials and discipline support the intended sacred result of the rite.

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

Though technical, it expresses bhakti through careful, reverent observance—offering and preparation done with exactness and purity are treated as a form of devoted service (seva) to the sacred rite and its deity-intent.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual prayoga and māna (measurement) traditions—using a standard unit (prastha) and specifying qualified ritual substances, aligning with Vedāṅga-style procedural exactness.