Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 46

Bhuvaneśī (Nidrā-Śakti) Mantra-vidhi, Nyāsa–Āvaraṇa Worship, Padma-homa Prayogas, and the Opening of Śrī-Mahālakṣmī Upāsanā

Devanagari script

अवाप्य महतीं प्रज्ञां कवीनामग्रणीर्भवेत् । कर्पूरागरुसंयुक्तकुंकुमं साधु साधितम् ॥ ४६ ॥

Transliteration

avāpya mahatīṃ prajñāṃ kavīnāmagraṇīrbhavet | karpūrāgarusaṃyuktakuṃkumaṃ sādhu sādhitam || 46 ||

Translation

ਵੱਡੀ ਪ੍ਰਜ్ఞਾ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਕਰਕੇ ਉਹ ਕਵੀਆਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਅਗਵਾਨ ਬਣਦਾ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਲਈ ਕਪੂਰ ਅਤੇ ਅਗਰੂ ਨਾਲ ਮਿਲਿਆ, ਚੰਗੀ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਸਿੱਧ ਕੀਤਾ ਕੁੰਕੁਮ (ਕੇਸਰ) ਵਰਤਣਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ॥੪੬॥

Word by Word

• अवाप्य: having obtained
• अवाप्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अव-√आप् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त अव्यय (gerund): ‘प्राप्य’; Indeclinable absolutive

• महतीम्: great
• महतीम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• प्रज्ञाम्: wisdom, intelligence
• प्रज्ञाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• कवीनाम्: of poets
• कवीनाम्: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कवि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• अग्रणीः: a leader, foremost
• अग्रणीः: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्रणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भवेत्: would become
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Parasmaipada; Optative, 3rd person singular

• कर्पूर-अगरु-संयुक्त-कुङ्कुमम्: saffron mixed with camphor and aloe-wood
• कर्पूर-अगरु-संयुक्त-कुङ्कुमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्पूर (प्रातिपदिक) + अगरु (प्रातिपदिक) + संयुक्त (√युज् + क्त, कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + कुङ्कुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः: (कर्पूर+अगरु) इति द्वन्द्व-समाहारः (implicit) + तेन संयुक्तम् इति तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः + कुङ्कुमम्; Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular

• साधु: well, properly
• साधु: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साधु (अव्यय/विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रशंसावाचक/रीतिवाचक (particle/adverb): ‘भद्रम्/सम्यक्’; Indeclinable

• साधितम्: prepared, accomplished
• साधितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √साध् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; Past passive participle; Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a technical/Vedanga-oriented context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It presents a prayoga (technical ritual formulation) where refined substances, properly prepared, are linked with the cultivation of prajñā—clarity and higher discernment—leading to excellence in sacred speech and poetry.

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

While not directly teaching bhakti, it supports devotional practice indirectly: sharper prajñā and eloquence help one study, recite, and praise the Divine more effectively—key supports for sustained Vishnu-bhakti and śāstra-kathā.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects prayoga-oriented discipline—proper preparation (sādhu sādhitam) and correct compounding of materials—aligned with the technical spirit seen in Vedanga applications (especially kalpa/prayoga traditions) used to support learning and recitation.