Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 167

Nityā-paṭala-prakaraṇa

The Exposition of the Nityā-paṭala

Devanagari script

सुगंधिशिफालिकया त्रिमध्वक्तैर्यथाविधि । होमात्सप्तसु वारेषु तन्मंडलत एव वै ॥ १६७ ॥

Transliteration

sugaṃdhiśiphālikayā trimadhvaktairyathāvidhi | homātsaptasu vāreṣu tanmaṃḍalata eva vai || 167 ||

Translation

Dùng lễ vật śiphālikā thơm (tựa hoa nhài), hòa với ba vị ngọt và bơ ghee, hãy cử hành hỏa cúng (homa) đúng pháp. Khi làm homa suốt bảy ngày, quả báo mong cầu quả thật phát sinh từ chính maṇḍala ấy.

Word by Word

• सुगन्धिशिफालिकया: with fragrant śiphālikā (a fragrant substance/flower)
• सुगन्धिशिफालिकया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुगन्धि + शिफालिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (सुगन्धिः शिफालिका)

• त्रिमधु-अक्तैः: with (items) smeared with three honeys
• त्रिमधु-अक्तैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि + मधु + अक्त (कृदन्त; अञ्ज्/अक्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; तत्पुरुष (त्रिभिः मधुभिः अक्ताः = smeared with three kinds of honey)

• यथा-विधि: according to rule
• यथा-विधि: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय (adverbial phrase)

• होमात्: from/after the oblation (homa)
• होमात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन

• सप्तसु: in seven
• सप्तसु: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (सामान्यतः) सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक विशेषण

• वारेषु: on occasions/times (days)
• वारेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-सम्बन्धे (genitival relation) / विशेषणरूपेण; समासपूर्वपद (in compound)

• मण्डलतः: from the maṇḍala (circle/diagram)
• मण्डलतः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक) + तः (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb ‘from’)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• वै: certainly
• वै: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/assurance)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within a ritual-technical section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that correctly performed ritual action (homa), done with prescribed substances and sustained over a fixed period (seven days), yields results through the sanctified structure of the rite—here symbolized by the maṇḍala.

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

While primarily technical, it supports bhakti by showing devotion expressed as disciplined worship—offering fragrant materials and sweet substances with faith, order, and continuity, centered on a consecrated maṇḍala.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual vidhi (procedural correctness): specific dravya (offerings), their preparation (mixing/anointing), the time-count (seven days), and the use of a maṇḍala as the operative ritual framework.