Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 142

Mahāviṣṇu-Mantras: Aṣṭākṣarī, Sudarśana-Astra, Nyāsa Systems, Āvaraṇa-Pūjā, and Prayogas

Devanagari script

अङ्गानि पूर्वमाराध्य भूवह्निजलमारुतान् । दिक्पात्रेषु च सम्पूज्य कोणपत्रेषु तत्कलाः ॥ १४२ ॥

Transliteration

aṅgāni pūrvamārādhya bhūvahnijalamārutān | dikpātreṣu ca sampūjya koṇapatreṣu tatkalāḥ || 142 ||

Translation

Trước hết, hành giả nên kính lễ các chi phần (aṅga); rồi thờ phụng Đất, Lửa, Nước và Gió. Sau khi đã cúng bái đúng nghi trong các khí cụ thuộc các phương, lại nên lễ bái các kalā (phần lực vi tế) của chúng trên những lá ở các góc của đồ hình nghi lễ.

Word by Word

• अङ्गानि: limbs/parts
• अङ्गानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), बहुवचन; neuter nominative/accusative plural

• पूर्वम्: first, beforehand
• पूर्वम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• आराध्य: having worshipped
• आराध्य: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-राध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) ‘having worshipped/propitiated’

• भू-वह्नि-जल-मारुतान्: earth, fire, water, and wind (elements)
• भू-वह्नि-जल-मारुतान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक) + वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + जल (प्रातिपदिक) + मारुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन; dvandva denoting the four elements; masculine accusative plural

• दिक्-पात्रेषु: in the directional vessels
• दिक्-पात्रेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक) + पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), बहुवचन; locative plural; ‘in the direction-vessels/containers of directions’

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

• सम्पूज्य: having fully worshipped
• सम्पूज्य: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-पूज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) ‘having duly worshipped’

• कोण-पत्रेषु: in the corner petals/leaves
• कोण-पत्रेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोण (प्रातिपदिक) + पत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), बहुवचन; locative plural; ‘in the corner-leaves/petals’

• तत्-कलाः: their parts/kalās
• तत्-कलाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + कला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; nominative plural; ‘their kalās/parts’

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical/ritual sequence within the Vedanga-oriented section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Bhū (Earth)
• Vahni (Fire)
• Jala (Water)
• Māruta/Vāyu (Wind)
• Dik (Directions)

FAQs

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

It teaches an ordered ritual discipline: purifying and honoring the practitioner’s ‘limbs’ (aṅgas) first, then harmonizing with elemental forces and the cosmic directions, and finally acknowledging their subtle powers (kalās) within the sacred diagram—linking inner preparation with outer cosmology.

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

Bhakti here appears as methodical reverence: devotion is expressed through careful, complete worship (sampūjā) of the Lord’s manifest supports—elements and directions—so the devotee’s body, space, and intention become aligned for higher worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual procedure and spatial arrangement: using direction-specific vessels (dikpātra), placing offerings on a maṇḍala/yantra’s corner-petals, and distinguishing gross elements from their kalās—typical of technical ritual instruction associated with Vedāṅga-style praxis.