Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 71

The Description of the Worship of Rāma and Others

Rāmādi-pūjā-vidhāna

Devanagari script

श्यामं प्रसन्नवदनं सर्वाभरणभूषितम् । एवं ध्यात्वा जपेन्मंत्री वर्णलक्षं समाहितः ॥ ७१ ॥

Transliteration

śyāmaṃ prasannavadanaṃ sarvābharaṇabhūṣitam | evaṃ dhyātvā japenmaṃtrī varṇalakṣaṃ samāhitaḥ || 71 ||

Translation

Dengan demikian bermeditasi pada Tuhan yang berwarna gelap, berwajah tenang dan dihiasi segala perhiasan; maka pengamal mantra, dengan minda terkumpul sepenuhnya, hendaklah mengulang mantra itu hingga seratus ribu suku kata.

Word by Word

• श्यामम्: dark/blue-hued
• श्यामम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्याम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• प्रसन्न-वदनम्: with a serene face
• प्रसन्न-वदनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + वदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास; विशेषण

• सर्व-आभरण-भूषितम्: adorned with all ornaments
• सर्व-आभरण-भूषितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आभरण (प्रातिपदिक) + भूषित (कृदन्त; भूष् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुष (आभरणैः भूषितम् = adorned with ornaments) भावे/कर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• ध्यात्वा: having meditated
• ध्यात्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्या (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having done)

• जपेत्: should recite
• जपेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मन्त्री: the mantra-practitioner
• मन्त्री: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• वर्ण-लक्षम्: a lakh (100,000) of syllables/recitations
• वर्ण-लक्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + लक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वर्णानां लक्षम् = a lakh of syllables/letters)

• समाहितः: concentrated/collected
• समाहितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समाहित (कृदन्त; सम्-आ-धा धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; विशेषण (of the subject)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It links successful mantra-japa to dhyāna: visualizing the Lord’s auspicious form (dark-hued, serene, ornamented) and then reciting with a collected mind, emphasizing inner steadiness as the basis of spiritual efficacy.

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

Bhakti is expressed as loving contemplation of the Lord’s pleasing form and sustained remembrance through japa; devotion becomes disciplined practice—mind fixed on Vishnu while repeating the mantra in large count.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects a technical japa-standard (varṇalakṣa—counting recitation by syllables/letters) and the ritual method of combining dhyāna with mantra practice, aligning with disciplined recitation procedures used in Vedic/Mantra traditions.