Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 20

Gaṇeśa Mantra-vidhi: Mahāgaṇapati Gāyatrī, Vakratuṇḍa Mantra, Nyāsa, Homa, Āvaraṇa-pūjā, and Caturthī Vrata

Devanagari script

मोदका नारिकेलानि लाजा द्रव्याष्टकं स्मृतम् । पीठमाधारशक्त्यादिपरतत्वांतमर्चयेत् ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

modakā nārikelāni lājā dravyāṣṭakaṃ smṛtam | pīṭhamādhāraśaktyādiparatatvāṃtamarcayet || 20 ||

Translation

मोदक, नारळ आणि लाजा (लई/भाजलेले तांदूळ) हेही अष्टद्रव्यात स्मरण केले आहेत। आधार-शक्तीपासून आरंभ करून परतत्त्वापर्यंत पीठाचे अर्चन करावे।

Word by Word

• modakāḥ: sweet balls (modakas)
• modakāḥ: Karma (Object of offering)
• Type: Noun
• Root: modaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• nārikelāni: coconuts
• nārikelāni: Karma (Object of offering)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārikela (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• lājāḥ: puffed rice
• lājāḥ: Karma (Object of offering)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lāja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• dravyāṣṭakam: group of eight substances
• dravyāṣṭakam: Karma (Object/Predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dravya-aṣṭaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• smṛtam: is remembered/known as
• smṛtam: Kriya (Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: smṛ (धातु)
• Form: Kta Pratyaya (Past Participle), Neuter, Singular

• pīṭham: the pedestal/seat
• pīṭham: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pīṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• ādhāraśaktyādiparatatvāntam: starting from Adhara Shakti up to the Supreme Principle
• ādhāraśaktyādiparatatvāntam: Visheshana (Adjective to Pitham)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ādhāraśakti-ādi-paratattva-anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• arcayet: should worship
• arcayet: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arc (धातु)
• Form: Vidhilin Lakara (Potential Mood), Parasmaipada, Prathama Purusha (3rd), Singular

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue framework)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Adhara-Shakti
• Paratattva

FAQs

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

It links external offerings (a prescribed set of ritual substances) with an inner metaphysical ascent—worship is performed stepwise from foundational divine power (Ādhāra-Śakti) up to the Supreme Reality (Paratattva).

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

Bhakti is expressed as disciplined pūjā: devotion is not only emotion but a methodical honoring of the divine presence on the pīṭha, culminating in contemplation and worship of the highest principle.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects practical ritual science—selection of dravyas (offerings) and a prescribed worship-sequence (krama) for the altar/pedestal, aligning materials and procedure with a graded metaphysical framework.