Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 148

Nityā-paṭala-prakaraṇa

The Exposition of the Nityā-paṭala

Devanagari script

पद्माक्षैर्हवनाल्लक्ष्मीमवाप्नोति त्रिभिर्दिनैः । बिल्वैर्दशांशं जुहुयान्मंत्राद्यैः साधने जपे ॥ १४८ ॥

Transliteration

padmākṣairhavanāllakṣmīmavāpnoti tribhirdinaiḥ | bilvairdaśāṃśaṃ juhuyānmaṃtrādyaiḥ sādhane jape || 148 ||

Translation

Pelo havana (homa) com sementes de lótus, em três dias alcança-se Lakṣmī. E com folhas de bilva, ao empreender a sādhana do mantra e o japa, deve-se oferecer ao fogo, como oblação, a décima parte da contagem do mantra.

Word by Word

• पद्म-अक्षैः: with lotus-seeds
• पद्म-अक्षैः: Instrument (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (पद्मस्य अक्षाणि/बीजानि)

• हवनात्: from/by the oblation
• हवनात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान/हेतु), एकवचन

• लक्ष्मीम्: Lakshmi; prosperity
• लक्ष्मीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• अवाप्नोति: attains
• अवाप्नोति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √आप् (धातु) + अव- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लट् (present indicative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• त्रिभिः: with three
• त्रिभिः: Instrument (करण; time-measure)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषणम् (दिनैः)

• दिनैः: days
• दिनैः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण; time-span)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• बिल्वैः: with bilva (wood/leaves/fruits)
• बिल्वैः: Instrument (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बिल्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• दश-अंशम्: a tenth part
• दश-अंशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + अंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (दशमः अंशः = one-tenth portion)

• जुहुयात्: should offer (into fire)
• जुहुयात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हु (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मन्त्र-आद्यैः: with mantras and the like
• मन्त्र-आद्यैः: Instrument (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (मन्त्राः आदयः येषां तैः)

• साधने: in the rite/practice
• साधने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• जपे: in repetition (japa)
• जपे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: artha (pragmatic/goal-oriented)

Characters & Entities

• Lakshmi

FAQs

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

It links prosperity (Lakṣmī) to disciplined mantra-sādhana: japa is supported by homa, and specific sacred substances (lotus seeds, bilva) are prescribed to intensify the rite and its फल (result).

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

While framed as a technical ritual instruction, it reflects bhakti in practice: offerings and japa are performed as devoted worship, seeking Lakṣmī’s grace through reverent, rule-based upāsanā.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights a ritual proportion rule used in mantra practice—daśāṃśa homa (offering one-tenth of the japa count)—a practical procedure aligned with Kalpa-style ritual science (a Vedāṅga domain).