Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 37

Gaṇeśa Mantra-vidhi: Mahāgaṇapati Gāyatrī, Vakratuṇḍa Mantra, Nyāsa, Homa, Āvaraṇa-pūjā, and Caturthī Vrata

Devanagari script

पद्मैस्तु वशयेद्भूपांस्तत्पत्नीश्चोत्पलैस्तथा । कुमुदैर्मंत्रिणोऽश्वत्थसमिद्भिर्वाडवाञ्शुभैः ॥ ३७ ॥

Transliteration

padmaistu vaśayedbhūpāṃstatpatnīścotpalaistathā | kumudairmaṃtriṇo'śvatthasamidbhirvāḍavāñśubhaiḥ || 37 ||

Translation

Bằng hoa sen, hành giả khiến các bậc quân vương chịu ảnh hưởng; cũng vậy, bằng sen xanh mà cảm hóa các hoàng hậu. Bằng hoa kumuda (sen trắng) mà chi phối các đại thần; và bằng que củi tế (samidh) từ cây aśvattha thiêng (bồ-đề) cát tường mà cảm hóa những phụ nữ cao quý.

Word by Word

• पद्मैः: with lotuses
• पद्मैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन — Instrumental plural (by/with lotuses)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात/पदार्थ-विशेषक — particle ‘but/indeed’

• वशयेत्: should bring under control
• वशयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — ‘should subdue/control’

• भूपान्: kings
• भूपान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Accusative plural

• तत्-पत्नीः: their wives
• तत्-पत्नीः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + पत्नी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — ‘their wives’ (acc. pl.)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक — conjunction ‘and’

• उत्पलैः: with lotuses (utpala)
• उत्पलैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्पल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Instrumental plural

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण — adverb ‘thus/likewise’

• कुमुदैः: with kumuda-flowers
• कुमुदैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमुद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Instrumental plural

• मन्त्रिणः: ministers
• मन्त्रिणः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Accusative plural (ministers)

• अश्वत्थ-समिद्भिः: with aśvattha fuel-sticks
• अश्वत्थ-समिद्भिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्वत्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + समिध् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; स्त्रीलिङ्ग (समिध्), तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — ‘with aśvattha kindling-sticks’

• वाडवान्: Vāḍavas (a class of beings/people)
• वाडवान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाडव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Accusative plural

• शुभैः: auspicious
• शुभैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Instrumental plural; विशेषण (qualifying the instruments like samid/flowers)

Speaker

Narada (teaching Sanatkumara in a technical/ritual context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Ashvattha

FAQs

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

It maps specific ritual materials (flowers and samidha) to intended targets, illustrating the Purana’s technical teaching that dravya (rite-material) selection is integral to mantra-karman and must be chosen according to prescribed correspondences.

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

Indirectly: it belongs to the technical/ritual strand (Book 1.3) rather than pure bhakti-stuti, showing how regulated rites (when ethically framed) can support social harmony and religious goals, while bhakti remains the higher orientation in the Purana’s wider teaching.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual procedure and material-correspondence—an applied aspect of Kalpa (ritual discipline) and mantra-prayoga—where particular flowers and samidha are prescribed for specific ritual intentions.