Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 44

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

Devanagari script

यदा मध्ये यजेद्विष्णुं बाह्यादिषु विनायकम् । रविं शिवां शिवं चैव यदा मध्ये तु शङ्करम् ॥ ४४ ॥

Transliteration

yadā madhye yajedviṣṇuṃ bāhyādiṣu vināyakam | raviṃ śivāṃ śivaṃ caiva yadā madhye tu śaṅkaram || 44 ||

Translation

若以毗湿奴（Viṣṇu）居中而礼拜，则外侧当供敬毗那夜迦（Vināyaka）；同样也应供敬太阳神与湿婆女神（Śivā）以及湿婆（Śiva）。但若以商羯罗（Śaṅkara）居中礼拜，则应依其法度相应安排，令周围配祀诸神各得其位。

Word by Word

• यदा: when
• यदा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (temporal conjunction/adverb)

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th); एकवचन (Singular)

• यजेत्: should worship
• यजेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative); प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person); एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद

• विष्णुम्: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd); एकवचन (Singular)

• बाह्यादिषु: in the outer (places) etc.
• बाह्यादिषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाह्य + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th); बहुवचन (Plural); बाह्य-आदि = 'outer etc. (positions)'

• विनायकम्: Vināyaka (Gaṇeśa)
• विनायकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विनायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd); एकवचन (Singular)

• रविम्: the Sun (Ravi)
• रविम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रवि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd); एकवचन (Singular)

• शिवाम्: Śivā (Pārvatī)
• शिवाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd); एकवचन (Singular)

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd); एकवचन (Singular)

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

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• यदा: when
• यदा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (temporal conjunction/adverb)

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th); एकवचन (Singular)

• तु: but/then
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/पक्षान्तर (adversative/contrast particle)

• शङ्करम्: Śaṅkara
• शङ्करम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd); एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Narada (teaching a technical ritual arrangement within Book 1.3’s Vedanga/vidhi-oriented material)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Vinayaka (Ganesha)
• Ravi (Surya)
• Shiva (Shankara)
• Shiva (Devi/Parvati)

FAQs

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

It teaches that worship is not only about the chosen central deity but also about maintaining ritual harmony by honoring complementary deities in their proper positions, reflecting an integrated Vedic-puranic devotional order.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as disciplined reverence: the devotee centers the heart on Viṣṇu (or Śaṅkara) while respectfully acknowledging related divine powers—Vināyaka, Sūrya, Śivā, and Śiva—so devotion becomes complete and unobstructed.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual procedure (vidhi) and deity-placement principles (devatā-vinyāsa) used in pūjā/maṇḍala arrangements—technical guidance aligned with the applied sciences of worship found in Book 1.3.