Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 187

Nityā-paṭala-prakaraṇa

The Exposition of the Nityā-paṭala

Devanagari script

प्रयोगान्साधयेद्धीमान् मंगलायाः प्रसादतः । संपूज्य देवतां विप्रकुमारीं कन्यकां तु वा ॥ १८७ ॥

Transliteration

prayogānsādhayeddhīmān maṃgalāyāḥ prasādataḥ | saṃpūjya devatāṃ viprakumārīṃ kanyakāṃ tu vā || 187 ||

Translation

ବୁଦ୍ଧିମାନ ବ୍ୟକ୍ତି ମଙ୍ଗଳା ଦେବୀଙ୍କ ପ୍ରସାଦରେ ଏହି ପ୍ରୟୋଗଗୁଡ଼ିକୁ ସାଧନ କରିବା ଉଚିତ। ପ୍ରଥମେ ଦେବତାଙ୍କୁ ସମ୍ପୂଜା କରି, ପରେ ବିଧିମତେ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣ କୁମାରୀ କିମ୍ବା କନ୍ୟାକୁ ଯଥୋଚିତ ସମ୍ମାନ ଦେବା ଉଚିତ।

Word by Word

• प्रयोगान्: ritual applications/operations
• प्रयोगान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया/कर्म (2nd case), बहुवचन

• साधयेत्: should accomplish/perform
• साधयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: साध् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• धीमान्: the intelligent person
• धीमान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा/कर्ता (1st case), एकवचन

• मंगलायाः: of Maṅgalā (the deity)
• मंगलायाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मङ्गला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध (6th case), एकवचन

• प्रसादतः: by/through (her) grace
• प्रसादतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रसाद (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तद्धित)
• Form: तसिल्/तस्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb), हेतुवाचक

• संपूज्य: having duly worshipped
• संपूज्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + पूज् (धातु) → संपूज्य (कृदन्त, ल्यप्)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभावे कृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकाले

• देवताम्: the deity
• देवताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/कर्म (2nd case), एकवचन

• विप्र-कुमारीम्: a Brahmin maiden
• विप्र-कुमारीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक) + कुमारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (विप्रस्य कुमारी); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/कर्म (2nd case), एकवचन

• कन्यकाम्: a girl/virgin
• कन्यकाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्यका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/कर्म (2nd case), एकवचन

• तु: or else/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विकल्प/विशेष (emphasis)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प (disjunctive particle)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Maṅgalā (Auspicious Deity)
• Devata (deity)
• Vipra (Brahmin)

FAQs

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

It teaches that ritual success is not merely technical; it is perfected through the deity’s grace (prasāda) and through dharmic acts like proper worship and respectful honoring of a pure, auspicious representative such as a maiden.

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

Bhakti is implied through the primacy of devatā-pūjā and reliance on prasāda: the rite bears fruit when performed with reverence, surrender, and devotional honoring of what is considered auspicious.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects prayoga-oriented ritual procedure—how to ‘apply’ a rite effectively—emphasizing correct sequencing (first devatā-pūjā, then honoring an auspicious kanya), a hallmark of technical ritual instruction associated with Vedanga-style practice.