Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 81

Mantra-Māhātmya and Sādhana of Kārtavīryārjuna

Nyāsa, Yantra, Homa, and Dīpa-Vrata

Devanagari script

अधोग्रां दक्षिणाधारां निखनेच्छुरिकां शुभाम् । दीपं प्रज्वालयेत्तत्र गणेशस्मृतिपूर्वकम् ॥ ८१ ॥

Transliteration

adhogrāṃ dakṣiṇādhārāṃ nikhanecchurikāṃ śubhām | dīpaṃ prajvālayettatra gaṇeśasmṛtipūrvakam || 81 ||

Translation

พึงฝังมีดอันเป็นมงคลโดยให้ปลายชี้ลงและด้ามหันสู่ทิศใต้ แล้ว ณ ที่นั้นเมื่อระลึกถึงพระคเณศก่อน จึงจุดประทีปให้สว่าง

Word by Word

• अधः-ग्राम्: with the tip downward
• अधः-ग्राम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधः (अव्यय) + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अव्ययीभावः (अधः + अग्र = downward-pointed tip)

• दक्षिण-आधाराम्: having support on the right/south side
• दक्षिण-आधाराम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक) + आधार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (दक्षिणः आधारः यस्याः सा)

• निखनेत्: should bury/dig in
• निखनेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-खन् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• छुरिकाम्: a small knife/dagger
• छुरिकाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छुरिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शुभाम्: auspicious
• शुभाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दीपम्: lamp
• दीपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रज्वालयेत्: should light/kindle
• प्रज्वालयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-ज्वल् (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; णिजन्त (causative) प्रयोगः

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• गणेश-स्मृति-पूर्वकम्: after first remembering Gaṇeśa
• गणेश-स्मृति-पूर्वकम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: गणेश (प्रातिपदिक) + स्मृति (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययभावे नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचनरूपेण क्रियाविशेषण; अव्ययीभावः (गणेशस्य स्मृतिः पूर्वं यस्य तत्)

Speaker

Narada (in instruction mode, within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue framework)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Ganesha

FAQs

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

It emphasizes ritual correctness and auspicious sequencing: establishing the implement in a prescribed orientation, then invoking Gaṇeśa as the remover of obstacles before lighting the lamp, a common marker of sanctifying the rite.

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

Even in technical ritual acts, the verse places smaraṇa (remembrance) first—specifically Gaṇeśa-smṛti—showing that inner recollection of the deity precedes and empowers external actions, aligning ritual with devotional intent.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects prayoga-style ritual knowledge: dik-niyama (directional rules) and karma-krama (proper sequence of acts), practical components often associated with Kalpa/ritual procedure within Vedanga-oriented instruction.