Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 104

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

Devanagari script

बाहुभ्यां च सजानुभ्यां शिरसा वचसापि वा । पंचांगकः प्रणामः स्यात्पूजायां प्रवरावुभौ ॥ १०४ ॥

Transliteration

bāhubhyāṃ ca sajānubhyāṃ śirasā vacasāpi vā | paṃcāṃgakaḥ praṇāmaḥ syātpūjāyāṃ pravarāvubhau || 104 ||

Translation

No culto, a forma excelente de saudação é a prostração de cinco membros (pañcāṅga-praṇāma): feita com os braços, com os joelhos, com a cabeça e também com palavras. Ambos—o ato corporal e a reverência verbal—são louváveis.

Word by Word

• बाहुभ्याम्: with (both) arms
• बाहुभ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), द्विवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• स-जानुभ्याम्: together with (both) knees
• स-जानुभ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थ ‘with’) + जानु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), द्विवचन; अव्ययीभावः: ‘स’ (=सहितम्) + ‘जानुभ्याम्’ → ‘सजानुभ्याम्’ (with the knees)

• शिरसा: with the head
• शिरसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• वचसा: with speech
• वचसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि-कार (also/even)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्प (disjunction)

• पञ्चाङ्गकः: five-limbed
• पञ्चाङ्गकः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः: ‘पञ्च अङ्गानि यस्य’

• प्रणामः: prostration
• प्रणामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• स्यात्: would be / is to be
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पूजायाम्: in worship
• पूजायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• प्रवरौ: excellent
• प्रवरौ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रवर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; ‘उभौ’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• उभौ: both (of them)
• उभौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उभ (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It teaches that true reverence in pūjā is expressed through complete surrender—bodily humility (prostration) together with respectful speech—making devotion tangible and disciplined.

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

Bhakti is shown here as enacted devotion: not only inner feeling, but outward submission through pañcāṅga-praṇāma and sincere words, aligning body, mind, and speech toward the deity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual praxis (kalpa-style procedure) is emphasized—how to perform a formal praṇāma during pūjā, specifying the limbs involved and including verbal homage as part of correct observance.