Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 28

The Description of the Caturdaśī Vrata Observed throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

मंडलं सर्वतोभद्रं धान्यवर्णैः प्रकल्प्य च । सुशोभने न्यसेत्तत्र कलशं ताम्रजं मुने ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

maṃḍalaṃ sarvatobhadraṃ dhānyavarṇaiḥ prakalpya ca | suśobhane nyasettatra kalaśaṃ tāmrajaṃ mune || 28 ||

Translation

Sau khi bày lập mạn-đà-la ‘sarvatobhadra’ cát tường bằng các hạt ngũ cốc nhiều màu, hỡi bậc hiền triết, hãy đặt tại chỗ trang nghiêm ấy một bình nước (kalaśa) bằng đồng.

Word by Word

• maṇḍalam: a maṇḍala (diagram/circle)
• maṇḍalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• sarvataḥ-bhadram: auspicious on all sides
• sarvataḥ-bhadram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarvataḥ + bhadra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; अव्ययीभावः ‘sarvataḥ’ (everywhere) qualifying ‘bhadra’

• dhānya-varṇaiḥ: with colored grains
• dhānya-varṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhānya + varṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; ‘dhānyasya varṇaiḥ’ = with grain-colors (colored grains)

• prakalpya: having prepared
• prakalpya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-kḷp (प्र+कॢप् धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund); ‘having arranged/prepared’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• suśobhane: in a beautiful place
• suśobhane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su-śobhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘in a beautiful (place/spot)’

• nyaset: should place
• nyaset: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-as (नि+अस्/न्यस् धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘should place’

• tatra: there
• tatra: Deśa (देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb: there)

• kalaśam: a pot (kalaśa)
• kalaśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kalaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• tāmrajam: made of copper
• tāmrajam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tāmra + ja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘tāmrasya jaḥ’ = made of copper

• mune: O sage
• mune: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that outer purity and auspicious arrangement—creating a protective sarvatobhadra maṇḍala and installing the kalaśa—supports inner steadiness and invites divine presence for successful worship.

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

Bhakti is expressed through careful, reverent preparation of the worship space; arranging the maṇḍala and placing the kalaśa becomes a devotional act that centers the mind on the Deity before mantra and offering.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure) and related prayoga-knowledge: constructing a specific maṇḍala pattern, using prescribed materials (colored grains), and performing kalaśa-sthāpana as part of a formal puja sequence.