Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 22

Mantraśodhana, Dīkṣā-krama, Guru-Pādukā, Ajapā-Haṃsa, and Ṣaṭcakra-Kuṇḍalinī Sādhana

Devanagari script

पार्ष्णिघातैस्त्रिभिर्भौमांस्ततः कर्म समाचरेत् । वर्णकैः सर्वतोभद्रे यथोक्तपरिकल्पिते ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

pārṣṇighātaistribhirbhaumāṃstataḥ karma samācaret | varṇakaiḥ sarvatobhadre yathoktaparikalpite || 22 ||

Translation

پھر ایڑی سے تین بار زمین پر ضرب لگا کر، شاستروکت طریقے سے حروف کے ذریعے تیار کیے گئے ‘سروتوبھدر’ منڈل کے اندر رسم ادا کرے۔

Word by Word

• pārṣṇi-ghātaiḥ: with heel-strikes
• pārṣṇi-ghātaiḥ: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pārṣṇi (प्रातिपदिक) + ghāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; समासः: पार्ष्ण्या घातः (तृतीया/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• tribhiḥ: with three
• tribhiḥ: Karana (करण/Instrument qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; numeral adjective qualifying ghātaiḥ

• bhaumān: earthly (ones)
• bhaumān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhauma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; ‘earthly (beings/obstacles)’

• tataḥ: then/thereafter
• tataḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण), thereafter/then

• karma: the rite/action
• karma: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• samācaret: should perform
• samācaret: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam + √car (धातु; गत्यर्थे/आचरणे)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• varṇakaiḥ: with colored markings/powders
• varṇakaiḥ: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṇaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; ‘with colored powders/marks’

• sarvataḥ-bhadre: in the Sarvatobhadra (diagram)
• sarvataḥ-bhadre: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarvataḥ (अव्यय) + bhadra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; अव्ययीभावः: सर्वतः भद्रम् (name of a diagram/mandala)

• yathā-ukta-parikalpite: as prescribed and properly prepared
• yathā-ukta-parikalpite: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + ukta (√vac; क्त, कृदन्त) + parikalpita (pari+√kḷp; क्त, कृदन्त)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; qualifies sarvatobhadre; compound sense: ‘as stated, duly arranged’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within the Vedanga/technical-ritual context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

FAQs

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

It emphasizes strict procedural fidelity in ritual work: consecrating the space (by symbolic heel-strikes) and performing the karma only within a correctly constructed auspicious mandala, aligning action with prescribed sacred order.

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

While primarily technical, it supports Bhakti indirectly by teaching disciplined, rule-based worship—where devotion is expressed through careful preparation of the sacred space and correct mantra/letter application.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects applied ritual science—mandala/yantra construction and varṇa-based mantra placement (a practical interface of Kalpa with mantra-usage), stressing that rites must follow the exact textual prescription.