Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 96

The Description of the Worship of Rāma and Others

Rāmādi-pūjā-vidhāna

Devanagari script

कटौ मेढ्रे पायुपादसंधिष्वर्णान्न्यसेन्मनोः । ध्यानार्चनादिकं चास्य पूर्ववत्समुपाचरेत् ॥ ९६ ॥

Transliteration

kaṭau meḍhre pāyupādasaṃdhiṣvarṇānnyasenmanoḥ | dhyānārcanādikaṃ cāsya pūrvavatsamupācaret || 96 ||

Translation

کمر، عضوِ تناسل، مقعد اور پاؤں کے جوڑوں پر منتر کے حروف کا ذہنی نیاس کرے۔ پھر پہلے بیان کردہ طریقے کے مطابق بھگوان کی دھیان، ارچن وغیرہ سب اعمال بجا لائے۔

Word by Word

• कटौ: on the hip/waist
• कटौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; Locative singular

• मेढ्रे: on the genital organ
• मेढ्रे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेढ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th), एकवचन; Locative singular

• पायु: on the anus
• पायु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th), एकवचन; Locative singular (in compound context)

• पाद-सन्धिषु: at the joints of the feet
• पाद-सन्धिषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + सन्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (पाद), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th), बहुवचन; Locative plural; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पादानां सन्धयः)

• वर्णान्: syllables/letters
• वर्णान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; Accusative plural

• न्यसेत्: should place/assign (nyāsa)
• न्यसेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि√अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; Parasmaipada

• मनः: with the mind
• मनः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; Instrumental singular (means)

• ध्यान-अर्चन-आदिकम्: meditation, worship, etc.
• ध्यान-अर्चन-आदिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्चन (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd), एकवचन; Accusative singular; समासः इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (ध्यानं च अर्चनं च आदयः)

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

• अस्य: of him/of this (mantra/deity)
• अस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; Genitive singular

• पूर्ववत्: as before
• पूर्ववत्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्ववत् (अव्यय/तद्धित)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• समुपाचरेत्: should perform/observe
• समुपाचरेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+उप√चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; Parasmaipada

Speaker

Narada (teaching ritual procedure within the Vedanga/technical worship context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It emphasizes nyāsa—internalizing the mantra by mentally assigning its syllables to specific body points—so the practitioner’s body-mind becomes a fit seat for meditation and worship.

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

By directing the devotee to proceed from mantra-internalization (nyāsa) to dhyāna and arcana “as before,” it frames devotion as disciplined, continuous worship where inner recollection supports outward offerings.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A technical ritual method: mantra-syllable placement (nyāsa) and the prescribed sequence of dhyāna and arcana—procedural knowledge aligned with Vedic/āgamic worship practice.