Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 78

Devapūjā-krama: Ārghya-saṃskāra, Maṇḍala–Nyāsa, Mudrā-pradarśana, Āvaraṇa-arcana, Homa, Japa, and Kṣamāpaṇa

Devanagari script

शुक्लश्वेतसितश्यामकृष्णरक्तार्चिषः क्रमात् । वराभयकरा ध्येयाः स्वस्वदिक्ष्वं गशक्तयः ॥ ७८ ॥

Transliteration

śuklaśvetasitaśyāmakṛṣṇaraktārciṣaḥ kramāt | varābhayakarā dhyeyāḥ svasvadikṣvaṃ gaśaktayaḥ || 78 ||

Translation

क्रमाने त्यांच्या प्रभा शुक्ल, उज्ज्वल-श्वेत, धवल, श्याम, कृष्ण आणि रक्तवर्ण आहेत. वर व अभय-मुद्रा धारण केलेल्या या अंग-शक्तींचे त्यांच्या त्यांच्या दिशांत ध्यान करावे॥

Word by Word

• śukla-śveta-sita-śyāma-kṛṣṇa-rakta-arciṣaḥ: having rays/flames (that are) white, bright-white, pale, dark, black, and red
• śukla-śveta-sita-śyāma-kṛṣṇa-rakta-arciṣaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śukla (प्रातिपदिक) + śveta (प्रातिपदिक) + sita (प्रातिपदिक) + śyāma (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + rakta (प्रातिपदिक) + arciṣ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strī-liṅga (feminine) agreeing with ‘śaktayaḥ’; Prathamā-vibhakti (1st/प्रथमा), Bahuvacana (plural); dvandva listing colors qualifying ‘arciṣ’ (rays/flames)

• kramāt: in sequence
• kramāt: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: krama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tasmāt-pratyaya adverbial ablative usage; Avyaya (adverb) meaning ‘in order/ क्रमशः’

• vara-abhaya-karāḥ: with boon-giving and fear-dispelling hands
• vara-abhaya-karāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक) + abhaya (प्रातिपदिक) + kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strī-liṅga (feminine) agreeing with ‘śaktayaḥ’; Prathamā-vibhakti (1st/प्रथमा), Bahuvacana (plural); ‘having hands (showing) boon and fearlessness’

• dhyeyāḥ: to be contemplated
• dhyeyāḥ: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhyeya (कृदन्त; ध्यै-धातु)
• Form: Kṛtya-pratyaya (यत्) gerundive/passive participle; Strī-liṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; ‘to be meditated upon’

• sva-sva-dikṣu: in their own respective directions
• sva-sva-dikṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + sva (प्रातिपदिक) + diś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strī-liṅga, Saptamī-vibhakti (7th), Bahuvacana; ‘in their respective directions’

• aṅga-śaktayaḥ: the limb-powers (śaktis)
• aṅga-śaktayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strī-liṅga (feminine), Prathamā-vibhakti (1st/प्रथमा), Bahuvacana (plural)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Vedanga/technical context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Aṃga (Aṅga)
• Śakti (divine powers)

FAQs

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

It teaches a precise dhyāna method: visualize the deity’s śaktis by direction, color, and mudrā (boon and fearlessness), aligning the practitioner’s mind with an ordered cosmic structure.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as focused meditation (upāsanā): contemplating compassionate protection (abhaya) and grace (vara) through clearly defined divine forms, which stabilizes devotion and inner trust.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects technical ritual-visualization rules—dik-viniyoga (directional assignment) and varṇa/arci (color-radiance coding)—commonly used in mantra-upāsanā and yantra/nyāsa style practices.