Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 31

Devapūjā-krama: Ārghya-saṃskāra, Maṇḍala–Nyāsa, Mudrā-pradarśana, Āvaraṇa-arcana, Homa, Japa, and Kṣamāpaṇa

Devanagari script

स्वर्णादिलिखिते यंत्रे शालग्रामे मणौ तथा । विधिना स्थापितायां वा प्रतिमायां प्रपूजयेत् ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

svarṇādilikhite yaṃtre śālagrāme maṇau tathā | vidhinā sthāpitāyāṃ vā pratimāyāṃ prapūjayet || 31 ||

Translation

Hendaklah dilakukan pemujaan menurut tata cara yang benar: pada yantra yang terukir pada emas (atau logam lain), pada batu Śālagrāma, pada permata suci, atau pada pratimā (arca) yang telah dipasang menurut upacara yang sah.

Word by Word

• स्वर्ण: gold
• स्वर्ण: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासाङ्ग

• आदि: and the like
• आदि: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासाङ्ग (‘etc.’)

• लिखिते: inscribed/engraved
• लिखिते: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लिख् (धातु) → लिखित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; ‘लिखिते (यन्त्रे)’

• यन्त्रे: in a yantra (diagram)
• यन्त्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• शालग्रामे: in a śālagrāma stone
• शालग्रामे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शालग्राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• मणौ: in a jewel
• मणौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• तथा: also
• तथा: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/तुल्यताबोधक क्रियाविशेषण (also/likewise)

• विधिना: according to rule / by proper procedure
• विधिना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case/करण), एकवचन; ‘विधिना’ = नियमानुसारम्

• स्थापितायाम्: having been installed
• स्थापितायाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) → स्थापित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; ‘स्थापितायाम् (प्रतिमायाम्)’

• वा: or
• वा: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (or)

• प्रतिमायाम्: in an image/idol
• प्रतिमायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• प्रपूजयेत्: should worship duly
• प्रपूजयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Shalagrama

FAQs

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

It affirms that devotion becomes ritually grounded when directed to authorized supports of worship—yantra, Śālagrāma, sacred gems, or a properly installed image—so that bhakti is expressed through vidhi (scriptural procedure).

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

It presents bhakti as practical and embodied: worship is not merely internal but performed through sanctified forms (especially Śālagrāma and duly installed pratimā) with reverent, rule-based offerings.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual precision—especially pratiṣṭhā (proper installation) and the correct use of yantra and consecrated icons—reflects applied Kalpa (the Vedāṅga dealing with ritual procedure).