Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 17

The Description of the Worship of Rāma and Others

Rāmādi-pūjā-vidhāna

Devanagari script

लक्ष्मणांगदशत्रुघ्नान् जांबवंतं क्रमात्पुनः । वाचयंतं हनूमंतग्रतो धृतपुस्तकम् ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

lakṣmaṇāṃgadaśatrughnān jāṃbavaṃtaṃ kramātpunaḥ | vācayaṃtaṃ hanūmaṃtagrato dhṛtapustakam || 17 ||

Translation

ततः क्रमात् पुनर्लक्ष्मणाङ्गदशत्रुघ्नान् जाम्बवन्तं च पश्येत्; हनूमत्पुरतः स्थितं श्रोतारं प्रति धृतपुस्तकः पाठयन्तं च ॥

Word by Word

• lakṣmaṇa-aṅgada-śatrughnān: Lakṣmaṇa, Aṅgada, and Śatrughna
• lakṣmaṇa-aṅgada-śatrughnān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅgada (प्रातिपदिक) + śatrughna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• jāmbavantam: Jāmbavān
• jāmbavantam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jāmbavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• kramāt: in sequence
• kramāt: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: krama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb), ‘क्रमेण’ (in order/stepwise)

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/पुनरावृत्ति-अव्यय (adverb: again)

• vācayantam: causing to recite / making (someone) read
• vācayantam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vācaya (णिजन्त causative of vac, धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (Present active participle/शतृ), परस्मैपदी; पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• hanūmat-grataḥ: in front of Hanumān
• hanūmat-grataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hanūmat (प्रातिपदिक) + grataḥ (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभावार्थ)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; ‘अग्रतः’ अर्थे (in front of); अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (indeclinable usage)

• dhṛta-pustakam: holding a book
• dhṛta-pustakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhṛta (कृदन्त, धृ धातोः क्त) + pustaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle)

Speaker

Narada (narrating within the Vedanga/technical-sciences section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Lakshmana
• Angada
• Shatrughna
• Jambavan
• Hanuman

FAQs

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

It highlights dharmic learning as a sacred act—reciting and hearing scripture in proper sequence, with humility before a worthy listener, is treated as a spiritual discipline.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through sevā to sacred knowledge: Hanumān’s attentive presence and the act of recitation show devotion that listens, preserves, and transmits dharma rather than merely proclaiming it.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse points to pāṭha/adhyāyana practice—orderly recitation (krama) and instruction (vācana) from a text (pustaka), reflecting disciplined methods associated with Vedanga-based learning and preservation.