Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 116

The Description of the Worship of Rāma and Others

Rāmādi-pūjā-vidhāna

Devanagari script

रामं त्रिनेत्रं सोमार्द्धधारिणं शूलिनं वरम् । भस्मोद्धूलितसर्वांगं कपर्द्दिनमुपास्महे ॥ ११६ ॥

Transliteration

rāmaṃ trinetraṃ somārddhadhāriṇaṃ śūlinaṃ varam | bhasmoddhūlitasarvāṃgaṃ kaparddinamupāsmahe || 116 ||

Translation

आम्ही त्या श्रेष्ठ प्रभूची उपासना करतो—जो रामरूपाने रमण करणारे, त्रिनेत्रधारी, मस्तकी अर्धचंद्र धारण करणारे, त्रिशूलधारी आहेत; ज्यांचे सर्वांग पवित्र भस्माने विभूषित असून जे जटाधारी तपस्वी आहेत।

Word by Word

• रामम्: Rāma
• रामम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• त्रि-नेत्रम्: three-eyed
• त्रि-नेत्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (epithet)

• सोम-अर्द्ध-धारिणम्: bearing half the moon
• सोम-अर्द्ध-धारिणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सोम (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्द्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + धारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• शूलिनम्: trident-bearer
• शूलिनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शूलिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• वरम्: excellent, best
• वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• भस्म-उद्धूलित-सर्व-अङ्गम्: whose whole body is smeared with ash
• भस्म-उद्धूलित-सर्व-अङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भस्म (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्धूलित (कृदन्त; √धूल्/ध्वंस्? ‘to cover with dust/ash’, past passive participle) + सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कृदन्त-विशेषण (भूतकर्मणि क्त/क्तवत्-भाव)

• कपर्द्दिनम्: wearing matted hair/topknot
• कपर्द्दिनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कपर्दिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• उपास्महे: we worship
• उपास्महे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √उप-आस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Narada (in a didactic/recitational passage within the Vedanga-focused section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Trinetra, Shulin, Kapardin)
• Soma (the crescent moon)
• Bhasma (sacred ash)

FAQs

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

It functions as an upāsanā-verse: by naming Shiva’s iconic marks (third eye, crescent moon, trident, bhasma, matted hair), the mind is fixed on his ascetic and transformative power, supporting concentration (dhyāna) and reverent worship.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as focused remembrance through epithets and visual attributes—‘we worship’ (upāsmahe) indicates surrender and steady contemplation, a practical form of devotion using sacred names and forms.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse models mantra-like recitation and dhyāna-supportive phrasing—useful for śikṣā (proper chanting) and vyākaraṇa-informed clarity of compounds (e.g., somārddhadhāriṇam, bhasmoddhūlitasarvāṅgam) in ritual liturgy.