Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 12

Devapūjā-krama: Ārghya-saṃskāra, Maṇḍala–Nyāsa, Mudrā-pradarśana, Āvaraṇa-arcana, Homa, Japa, and Kṣamāpaṇa

Devanagari script

चतुर्विंशतिवर्णोऽयमाधारस्यार्चने मनुः । स्वमंत्रक्षालितं शरंवं संस्याप्याय समर्चयेत् ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

caturviṃśativarṇo'yamādhārasyārcane manuḥ | svamaṃtrakṣālitaṃ śaraṃvaṃ saṃsyāpyāya samarcayet || 12 ||

Translation

此乃供奉圣支撑“Ādhāra”的二十四音节真言。以自身真言净化śarāva供碗，安置其位，然后以此供碗礼拜Ādhāra。

Word by Word

• caturviṃśati-varṇaḥ: having twenty-four syllables
• caturviṃśati-varṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: caturviṃśati + varṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular); तत्पुरुष-समासः (determinative): ‘चतुर्विंशतिः’ (24) + ‘वर्णः’ (syllable/letter)

• ayam: this
• ayam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• ādhārasya: of the support/base (ādhāra)
• ādhārasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ādhāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (singular)

• arcane: in worship
• arcane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location-context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arcana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (singular)

• manuḥ: the mantra-formula
• manuḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular); here: ‘mantra-formula’ (मन्त्रः)

• sva-mantra-kṣālitam: cleansed by one’s own mantra
• sva-mantra-kṣālitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva + mantra + kṣālita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √kṣāl (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle): ‘washed/cleansed’; तत्पुरुष-समासः: ‘स्वमन्त्रेण’ (by one’s own mantra) + ‘क्षालितम्’

• śaraṃvam: the vessel/bowl (śaraṃva)
• śaraṃvam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaraṃva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• saṃsthāpya: having placed/installed
• saṃsthāpya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Converb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√sthā (धातु) + ल्यप् (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्यय-भावे कृदन्त (indeclinable gerund/absolutive): ‘having placed/established’

• āya: (ritual particle) ‘āya’
• āya: Sambodhana/Mantra-pada (मन्त्रपद)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: āya (अव्यय/निपात)
• Form: निपात (particle); mantra/ritual exclamation used in prescriptions

• samarcayet: should worship duly
• samarcayet: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√arc (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada the technical ritual procedure)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that worship is not merely devotional feeling but a disciplined sacred science: mantra-precision (a fixed syllable-count) and ritual purity (purifying the vessel) together establish a proper foundation for arcana.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through careful, reverent practice—purifying the ritual implements with mantra and then offering worship—showing devotion as attentive service (seva) guided by scriptural method.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights technical ritual discipline aligned with Vedanga principles: correct mantra structure (varṇa/akṣara count) and procedural purity in worship (kṣālana and proper saṃsthāpana of ritual vessels).