Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 23

Mantraśodhana, Dīkṣā-krama, Guru-Pādukā, Ajapā-Haṃsa, and Ṣaṭcakra-Kuṇḍalinī Sādhana

Devanagari script

वह्निमण्डलमभ्यर्च्य तत्कलाः परिपूज्य च । अस्त्रप्रक्षालितं कुंभं यथाशक्ति विनिर्मितम् ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

vahnimaṇḍalamabhyarcya tatkalāḥ paripūjya ca | astraprakṣālitaṃ kuṃbhaṃ yathāśakti vinirmitam || 23 ||

Translation

礼敬火曼荼罗，并周全供奉其诸分力（kalā）之后，当随己力备置一只水罐（kumbha），以“阿斯特拉”真言作法净化。

Word by Word

• vahni-maṇḍalam: the fire-circle (fire-mandala)
• vahni-maṇḍalam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vahni (प्रातिपदिक) + maṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; समासः: वह्नेः मण्डलम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• abhyarcya: having worshipped
• abhyarcya: Kriya (क्रिया/Preceding action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi + √arc (धातु; पूजायाम्)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), having worshipped

• tat-kalāḥ: its kalās (parts/energies)
• tat-kalāḥ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + kalā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; ‘its parts/kalās’

• paripūjya: having worshipped thoroughly
• paripūjya: Kriya (क्रिया/Preceding action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari + √pūj (धातु; पूजायाम्)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), having fully worshipped

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• astra-prakṣālitam: washed with the astra (mantra)
• astra-prakṣālitam: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: astra (प्रातिपदिक) + prakṣālita (pra+√kṣāl; क्त, कृदन्त)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifies kuṃbham; ‘washed/purified by astra’

• kuṃbham: a pot
• kuṃbham: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuṃbha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• yathā-śakti: as much as possible
• yathā-śakti: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Modal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण), ‘according to ability’

• vinirmitam: well-made/constructed
• vinirmitam: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi + nir + √mā (धातु; निर्माणे)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifies kuṃbham

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within a technical/ritual teaching context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Agni

FAQs

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

It emphasizes ritual purity and ordered worship: first honour the fire-maṇḍala and its kalā-s, then prepare a sanctified kumbha, showing that inner intent is supported by correct consecratory steps.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as reverent service (pūjā) performed with discipline—worshipping Agni and preparing sacred implements carefully—so devotion becomes steady through proper ritual conduct.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual technique: constructing the vahni-maṇḍala, recognizing kalā-s (ritual sub-divisions/powers), and performing mantra-based purification (astra-prakṣālana) of the kumbha—core applied knowledge aligned with Kalpa (Vedāṅga of ritual procedure).