Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 20

The Narration of the Trayodaśī Vow Observed Throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

निरीक्ष्य गगने सूर्यं प्रार्थयेन्मंत्रतस्तदा । मंदारकरवीरार्का भवंतो भास्करांशजाः ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

nirīkṣya gagane sūryaṃ prārthayenmaṃtratastadā | maṃdārakaravīrārkā bhavaṃto bhāskarāṃśajāḥ || 20 ||

Translation

随后仰观天际之日轮，应依所授真言祈祷：“噢，曼陀罗、迦罗毗罗与阿尔迦——汝等由婆斯迦罗（日神）之光辉所生，愿垂慈悯。”

Word by Word

• nirīkṣya: having looked at
• nirīkṣya: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nir-īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त्वा (Absolutive/Gerund), ‘निरीक्ष्य’ = having looked at

• gagane: in the sky
• gagane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gagana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• sūryam: the Sun
• sūryam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• prārthayet: should pray/request
• prārthayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-arth (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• mantratas: with (a) mantra
• mantratas: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक) + -tas (तसिल्)
• Form: अव्यय—तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb): ‘मन्त्रतः’ = by means of a mantra / according to mantra

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—कालवाचक (then)

• maṃdāra-karavīra-arkāḥ: O mandāra, karavīra, and arka (flowers/plants)
• maṃdāra-karavīra-arkāḥ: Sambodhana/Addressed group (सम्बोधनार्थ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maṃdāra (प्रातिपदिक) + karavīra (प्रातिपदिक) + arka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (mandāra + karavīra + arka)

• bhavantaḥ: you (honored ones)
• bhavantaḥ: Sambodhana/Addressed (सम्बोधनार्थ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavant (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; आदरार्थ-प्रयोग (honorific ‘you’)

• bhāskara-aṃśa-jāḥ: born from the Sun’s rays
• bhāskara-aṃśa-jāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhāskara (प्रातिपदिक) + aṃśa (प्रातिपदिक) + ja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—भास्करस्य अंशः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) + तस्मात् जाताः (तत्पुरुष); विशेषण—भवन्तः/मन्दारादयः

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Daurbhāgya-śamana-vrata (mantra step)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Surya (Bhaskara)

FAQs

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

It frames Sun-worship (Sūryopāsanā) as a disciplined act: first direct perception of the deity in the sky, then mantra-guided prayer—linking devotion with correct ritual method.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as reverent address and supplication—“you, born of the Sun’s rays”—showing devotion through honoring the Sun’s divine manifestations and approaching them with mantras.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects mantra-vidhi (procedural use of mantras) and an applied, Jyotiṣa-aligned sensibility: worship is timed and oriented by direct observation of the Sun, integrating ritual practice with astronomical awareness.