Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 117

The Description of the Worship of Rāma and Others

Rāmādi-pūjā-vidhāna

Devanagari script

रामाभिरामं सौंदर्यसीमां सोमावतंसिनीम् । पाशांकुशधनुर्बाणधरां ध्यायेत्रिलोचनाम् ॥ ११७ ॥

Transliteration

rāmābhirāmaṃ sauṃdaryasīmāṃ somāvataṃsinīm | pāśāṃkuśadhanurbāṇadharāṃ dhyāyetrilocanām || 117 ||

Translation

त्रिनेत्री देवीचे ध्यान करावे—ज्या रमा (लक्ष्मी)सारख्या मनोहर, सौंदर्याची परम सीमा, मस्तकी अर्धचंद्र मुकुटासारखा धारण करणाऱ्या, आणि पाश, अंकुश, धनुष्य व बाण धारण करणाऱ्या आहेत।

Word by Word

• राम-अभिरामम्: delightful to Rāma
• राम-अभिरामम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिराम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (देवी-विषयक)

• सौन्दर्य-सीमाम्: the limit/embodiment of beauty
• सौन्दर्य-सीमाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौन्दर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + सीमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सोम-अवतंसिनीम्: wearing the moon as an ornament
• सोम-अवतंसिनीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सोम (प्रातिपदिक) + अवतंसिन्/अवतंसिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• पाश-अङ्कुश-धनुः-बाण-धराम्: bearing noose, goad, bow, and arrows
• पाश-अङ्कुश-धनुः-बाण-धराम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाश (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्कुश (प्रातिपदिक) + धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक) + बाण (प्रातिपदिक) + धरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; ‘धर’ = धारणकर्त्री (bearer)

• ध्यायेत्: one should meditate
• ध्यायेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• त्रि-लोचनाम्: three-eyed (goddess)
• त्रि-लोचनाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + लोचना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Narada (in an instructional/ritual-meditative context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Rama (Lakshmi)
• Devi (three-eyed Goddess)

FAQs

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

It prescribes a focused dhyāna (visualization) of the Goddess’ auspicious form and attributes, using iconographic details to steady the mind and invoke protection, mastery over the senses, and spiritual clarity.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as reverential contemplation: lovingly fixing attention on the Divine form (beauty, moon-crest, three eyes) and her powers (noose, goad, bow, arrows), turning devotion into sustained remembrance (smaraṇa) and worship (upāsanā).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects a technical upāsanā method—dhyāna-lakṣaṇa (meditative iconography) used in ritual practice—showing how precise attributes and symbols function as a structured aid for mantra-japa and worship procedure.