Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 120

Nityā-paṭala-prakaraṇa

The Exposition of the Nityā-paṭala

Devanagari script

तस्यां तिथौ त्रिमध्वक्तैर्मल्लिकाद्यैः सितैर्हुनेत् । अन्नाज्याभ्यां च नियतं हुत्वान्नाढ्यो भवेन्नरः ॥ १२० ॥

Transliteration

tasyāṃ tithau trimadhvaktairmallikādyaiḥ sitairhunet | annājyābhyāṃ ca niyataṃ hutvānnāḍhyo bhavennaraḥ || 120 ||

Translation

ആ തിഥിയിൽ ത്രിമധുരം (പാൽ, തൈര്, നെയ്യ്) കൂടാതെ മല്ലികാദി ശ്വേതപുഷ്പങ്ങൾ ചേർത്ത് ഹോമം ചെയ്യണം. അന്നവും നെയ്യും നിത്യമായി ആഹുതിയാക്കിയാൽ മനുഷ്യൻ സമൃദ്ധനാകും.

Word by Word

• tasyām: on that (tithi)
• tasyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); pronoun

• tithau: on the lunar day
• tithau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tithi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• tri-madhu-aktaiḥ: with (things) smeared with three kinds of honey/sweetness
• tri-madhu-aktaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक) + madhu (प्रातिपदिक) + akta (कृदन्त, √añj/अञ्ज्)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); कृदन्तः—akta (क्त), 'smeared'; समासः—madhu-aktaiḥ (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष) with tri as numeral qualifier

• mallikā-ādyaiḥ: with jasmine and the like
• mallikā-ādyaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mallikā (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); ādi='etc.'; समासः—mallikā-ādi (तत्पुरुष)

• sitaiḥ: with white (flowers/materials)
• sitaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• hunet: should offer (into fire)
• hunet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: hu (धातु)
• Form: Potential/Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• anna-ājyābhyām: with food and ghee
• anna-ājyābhyām: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anna (प्रातिपदिक) + ājya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Dual (द्विवचन); द्वन्द्वः—anna ca ājya ca

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• niyatam: regularly/definitely
• niyatam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: niyata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); adverbial accusative (क्रियाविशेषणवत्)

• hutvā: having offered
• hutvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: hu (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), 'having offered'

• anna-āḍhyaḥ: rich in food/grain-prosperous
• anna-āḍhyaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anna (प्रातिपदिक) + āḍhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—annena āḍhyaḥ (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष)

• bhavet: may become
• bhavet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Potential/Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• naraḥ: a man
• naraḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Narada (teaching within a technical/ritual section; often framed as Narada speaking in dialogue, commonly to Sanatkumara)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It teaches that disciplined, tithi-based homa using pure offerings (sweet substances, white flowers, anna and ghee) aligns one’s conduct with dharma and yields the fruit of prosperity (āḍhya).

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

While primarily ritual-technical, it reflects bhakti through reverent, regular offerings into sacred fire—an act of worship performed with purity and intention, seeking auspicious results through devotional discipline.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It emphasizes calendrical/astral timing via tithi observance (Jyotiṣa-related practice) and correct homa procedure (kalpa-oriented ritual discipline), including prescribed substances and regularity (niyama).