Shloka 49

Pūjādi-kathana — Gaṅgā Vratas, Tenfold Worship, Stotra, and Mokṣa on the Riverbank

Devanagari script

अथ तत्राप्यशक्तश्चेल्लिखेत्पिष्टेन वै भुवि । चतुर्भुजां सुनेत्रां च चन्द्रायुतसमप्रभाम् ॥ ४९ ॥

Transliteration

atha tatrāpyaśaktaścellikhetpiṣṭena vai bhuvi | caturbhujāṃ sunetrāṃ ca candrāyutasamaprabhām || 49 ||

Translation

आणि तेथेही अशक्त असल्यास, पिठाने भूमीवर (देवीचे) चित्र काढावे—चतुर्भुजा, सुनेत्रा आणि दहा लक्ष चंद्रांसारखी प्रभा असलेली।

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Discourse marker (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आरम्भ/अनन्तर (then/now)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (there)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि = also/even

• अशक्तः: unable
• अशक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (कर्तृ)

• चेत्: if
• चेत्: Condition marker (निमित्त)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चेत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शर्त/निबन्ध (conditional particle: if)

• लिखेत्: should draw/write
• लिखेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लिख् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• पिष्टेन: with paste/flour
• पिष्टेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक; √पिष् क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; द्रव्य (paste/flour)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphasis)

• भुवि: on the ground
• भुवि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन

• चतुर्भुजाम्: four-armed
• चतुर्भुजाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक) + भुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु/बहुव्रीहि-प्रायः; ‘चत्वारो भुजाः यस्याः सा’ (four-armed); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (देवीम् implied)

• सुनेत्राम्: beautiful-eyed
• सुनेत्राम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (सुन्दराणि नेत्राणि यस्याः); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• चन्द्रायुतसमप्रभाम्: having radiance equal to ten thousand moons
• चन्द्रायुतसमप्रभाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अयुत (प्रातिपदिक) + सम (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (चन्द्राणाम् अयुतस्य समा प्रभा यस्याः); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (देवीम् implied)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a ritual-instruction context within Uttara-Bhaga)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It teaches that devotion and intent (bhāva) can preserve the efficacy of worship even when one lacks resources—using a simple flour-drawing as a valid sacred support for meditation and ritual focus.

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

Bhakti is shown as adaptable and accessible: when elaborate arrangements are not possible, a devotee may still worship by creating a humble, reverent representation and contemplating the divine attributes (four arms, auspicious eyes, moon-like radiance).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects practical kalpa/ritual reasoning—using a sanctioned substitute (pratinidhi) method in worship procedure—showing how rites can be performed correctly even with minimal materials.