Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 160

Nityā-paṭala-prakaraṇa

The Exposition of the Nityā-paṭala

Devanagari script

काश्मीरकालागुरुभिर्मृगस्वेदमयैरपि । पूजयेच्च शिवामेतैर्गंधैः सर्वार्थसिद्धये ॥ १६० ॥

Transliteration

kāśmīrakālāgurubhirmṛgasvedamayairapi | pūjayecca śivāmetairgaṃdhaiḥ sarvārthasiddhaye || 160 ||

Translation

കുങ്കുമപ്പൂ (കാശ്മീരം), കറുത്ത അഗരു, കസ്തൂരിയിൽ നിന്നുള്ള സുഗന്ധങ്ങൾ എന്നിവകൊണ്ട്—ഈ ഗന്ധങ്ങളാൽ—ശിവയെ പൂജിക്കണം; അങ്ങനെ സർവാർത്ഥസിദ്ധി ലഭിക്കും॥

Word by Word

• काश्मीर-काल-अगुरुभिः: with saffron, black aloe-wood, and aguru
• काश्मीर-काल-अगुरुभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काश्मीर (प्रातिपदिक) + काल (प्रातिपदिक) + अगुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Instrumental plural); इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (kāśmīra, kāla, aguru as a set)

• मृग-स्वेद-मयैः: with those made of/consisting of musk
• मृग-स्वेद-मयैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृग (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘मृगस्वेद’ = कस्तूरी (musk) इति; ‘मय’ = ‘निर्मित/युक्त’

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक अव्यय (particle: also/even)

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• शिवाम्: Śivā (the Goddess)
• शिवाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• एतैः: with these
• एतैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Instrumental plural)

• गन्धैः: fragrances
• गन्धैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Instrumental plural)

• सर्व-अर्थ-सिद्धये: for the accomplishment of all aims
• सर्व-अर्थ-सिद्धये: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Dative singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सर्वार्थस्य सिद्धिः)

Speaker

Narada (in instruction within a ritual/technical context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Śivā

FAQs

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

It teaches that refined offerings (gandha—sacred fragrances) used with proper devotion in Śivā’s worship become a means to sarvārtha-siddhi—overall fulfillment of one’s rightful aims.

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

Bhakti is expressed through attentive upacāras (devotional services) such as offering perfumes; the verse frames sensory offerings as sanctified acts that support focused reverence toward the Goddess.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects ritual-technical knowledge of pūjā upacāras—specifically the selection and use of gandha (fragrant substances) like saffron, agarwood, and musk as prescribed offerings to achieve intended results.