Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 24

Śeṣoditya-Sūrya-nyāsa, Soma-sādhana, Graha-pūjā, and Bhauma-vrata-vidhi

Devanagari script

सोमाग्निमंडलं पूज्यरविमंडलमर्चयेत् । दीप्ता सूक्ष्मा जया भद्रा विभूतिर्विमला तथा ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

somāgnimaṃḍalaṃ pūjyaravimaṃḍalamarcayet | dīptā sūkṣmā jayā bhadrā vibhūtirvimalā tathā || 24 ||

Translation

चंद्र-अग्निमंडलाची पूजा करून मग सूर्य-मंडलाचे अर्चन करावे. (दिव्य शक्ती) दीप्ता, सूक्ष्मा, जया, भद्रा, विभूति तसेच विमला (अशा नावांनी) आहेत।

Word by Word

• सोम-अग्नि-मण्डलम्: the orb/circle of Soma and Agni
• सोम-अग्नि-मण्डलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोम (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः (द्वन्द्व; सोमश्च अग्निश्च), तत्पश्चात् षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषभावः ‘सोमाग्न्योः मण्डलम्’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पूज्य: (one) to be worshipped
• पूज्य: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूज् (धातु) + यत् (कृत्) → पूज्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive), (पुंलिङ्गे) प्रथमा एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण: ‘पूजनीयः’ (to be worshipped)

• रवि-मण्डलम्: the sun-orb
• रवि-मण्डलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रवि (प्रातिपदिक) + मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; रवेर् मण्डलम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• अर्चयेत्: should worship
• अर्चयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘he should worship’

• दीप्ता: shining
• दीप्ता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीप्त (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from दीप्/दीप्-दीप्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle used adjectivally), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सूक्ष्मा: subtle
• सूक्ष्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूक्ष्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• जया: Jaya (Victory)
• जया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम (proper/common)

• भद्रा: auspicious
• भद्रा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• विभूतिः: manifest power, glory
• विभूतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभूति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• विमला: pure
• विमला: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• तथा: and likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रकारः (particle/adverb): ‘also/likewise’

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a Vedanga/ritual-technical context, in dialogue tradition with Sanatkumara)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Soma
• Agni
• Ravi (Surya)

FAQs

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

It presents a stepwise upāsanā sequence—worship of the Soma–Agni maṇḍala followed by the Ravi (solar) maṇḍala—linking cosmic principles (Moon, Fire, Sun) to inner purification through named śaktis such as Dīptā (radiance) and Vimalā (purity).

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

Bhakti is expressed here as disciplined archana (ritual devotion): reverence to cosmic deities through maṇḍala worship, while contemplating their auspicious qualities (Bhadrā, Jayā, Vibhūti) as divine powers present in the act of worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects practical ritual procedure (kalpa-oriented practice) and a subtle jyotiṣa-style cosmology by organizing worship around Soma, Agni, and Ravi as mandalas, along with prescribed deity-name recitations used in formal archana.