Shloka 1

The Greatness of Puruṣottama

Aṣṭākṣarī Maṇḍala-Pūjā and Nyāsa

Devanagari script

वसुरुवाच । देवान् ऋषीन्पितॄंश्चान्यान्संतर्प्याचम्य वाग्यतः । हस्तमात्रं चतुष्कोणं चतुर्द्वारं सुशोभनम् ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

vasuruvāca | devān ṛṣīnpitṝṃścānyānsaṃtarpyācamya vāgyataḥ | hastamātraṃ catuṣkoṇaṃ caturdvāraṃ suśobhanam || 1 ||

Translation

Васу сказал: должным образом умиротворив подношениями богов, риши, питри (предков) и прочих, затем совершив ачаману и обуздав речь, следует устроить прекрасный квадрат (алтарь/диаграмму) мерою в одну ладонь, с четырьмя искусно сделанными вратами.

Word by Word

• वसुः: Vasu (the speaker)
• वसुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• देवान्: the gods
• देवान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ऋषीन्: the sages
• ऋषीन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• पितॄन्: the ancestors (pitṛs)
• पितॄन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अन्यान्: others
• अन्यान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• संतर्प्य: having satisfied
• संतर्प्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: संतर्पय् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), परस्मैपद-धातु; ‘having satisfied/propitiated’

• आचम्य: having performed ācamana
• आचम्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + चम (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); ‘having sipped (water) for purification’

• वाक्-यतः: restrained in speech
• वाक्-यतः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाक् (प्रातिपदिक) + यत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (वाक्-यतः = वाचा यतः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• हस्त-मात्रम्: of one hand’s measure
• हस्त-मात्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक) + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (measure), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• चतुष्कोणम्: four-cornered (square)
• चतुष्कोणम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक) + कोण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• चतुर्द्वारम्: having four gates
• चतुर्द्वारम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• सुशोभनम्: very beautiful
• सुशोभनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + शोभन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Vasu

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Rishis
• Pitrs

FAQs

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

It teaches that sacred action begins with purification and gratitude—propitiating devas, ṛṣis, and pitṛs, followed by ācamana and restraint of speech—before constructing the ritual space for worship.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as reverent preparation: the devotee disciplines body and speech, honors cosmic and ancestral supports, and then creates an orderly, auspicious space to invite divine presence.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure) through saṁtarpana and ācamana, and also shows attention to measured layout (hastamātra) used in altar/mandala construction.