Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 37

Nityā-paṭala-prakaraṇa

The Exposition of the Nityā-paṭala

Devanagari script

अरण्ये वटमूले वा कुंजे वा धरणीभृताम् । कदम्बगजातिपुष्पाभ्यां सिद्धद्रव्यैः शिवां यजेत् ॥ ३७ ॥

Transliteration

araṇye vaṭamūle vā kuṃje vā dharaṇībhṛtām | kadambagajātipuṣpābhyāṃ siddhadravyaiḥ śivāṃ yajet || 37 ||

Translation

अरण्यात—वटवृक्षाच्या मुळाशी किंवा पर्वतांवरील कुंजात—सिद्ध द्रव्यांसह कदंब व जातीच्या पुष्पांनी शिवा (मंगलमयी देवी)ची पूजा करावी.

Word by Word

• अरण्ये: in a forest
• अरण्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन (Neuter, Locative, Singular)

• वट-मूले: at the root of a banyan tree
• वट-मूले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वट (प्रातिपदिक) + मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (वटस्य मूले); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन (Neuter, Locative, Singular)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/option marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• कुञ्जे: in a grove
• कुञ्जे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुञ्ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन (Masculine, Locative, Singular)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/option marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• धरणी-भृताम्: of the mountain-bearers (mountains)
• धरणी-भृताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धरणी (प्रातिपदिक) + भृत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (धरणीं बिभ्रति इति); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन (Masculine, Genitive, Plural)

• कदम्ब-गजाति-पुष्पाभ्याम्: with kadamba- and gajāti-flowers (two kinds)
• कदम्ब-गजाति-पुष्पाभ्याम्: Karana (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कदम्ब (प्रातिपदिक) + गजाति (प्रातिपदिक) + पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कदम्बस्य गजात्याः पुष्पे); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), द्विवचन (Neuter, Instrumental, Dual)

• सिद्ध-द्रव्यैः: with perfected substances
• सिद्ध-द्रव्यैः: Karana (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + द्रव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (सिद्धानि द्रव्याणि); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन (Neuter, Instrumental, Plural)

• शिवाम्: Śivā (the auspicious goddess)
• शिवाम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन (Feminine, Accusative, Singular)

• यजेत्: should worship
• यजेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन (Optative, Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular)

Speaker

Narada (instruction within a technical/ritual teaching context, traditionally in dialogue with Sanatkumara)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Devi/Shivā)

FAQs

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

It teaches that sacred place (forest, banyan-root, mountain grove) and pure offerings (siddha-dravyas, fragrant flowers) support focused Devi-upāsanā, making worship inwardly steady and outwardly ritually correct.

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

Bhakti is expressed through simple, sincere offerings—especially flowers—and through choosing a quiet, sattvic setting that helps the devotee concentrate on Śivā as the auspicious Divine Mother.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure): specifying appropriate worship locations and prescribed materials (flowers and siddha-dravyas) as part of correct pūjā-vidhi.