Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 88

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

Devanagari script

दंडवञ्चाप्यथोत्थाय प्रार्थयित्वा निजेश्वरम् । दक्षिणे स्थंडिलं कृत्वा तत्र संस्कारमाचरेत् ॥ ८८ ॥

Transliteration

daṃḍavañcāpyathotthāya prārthayitvā nijeśvaram | dakṣiṇe sthaṃḍilaṃ kṛtvā tatra saṃskāramācaret || 88 ||

Translation

行完如杖般的全身顶礼（daṇḍavat）后起身，应向自己的主宰祈祷。随后在右侧备置仪式之地（sthaṇḍila），并于彼处依规行诸净礼（saṃskāra）。

Word by Word

• daṇḍavat: in full prostration
• daṇḍavat: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: daṇḍavat (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय); ‘like a staff’ i.e., full prostration

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), ‘also/indeed’

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb/particle (निपात), sequence ‘then’

• utthāya: having stood up
• utthāya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-sthā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), from उत्+स्था; ‘having risen’

• prārthayitvā: having prayed to
• prārthayitvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-arth (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), causative sense in usage ‘having prayed/requested’

• nija-īśvaram: one’s own Lord
• nija-īśvaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nija + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय: ‘one’s own lord’

• dakṣiṇe: on the right (side)
• dakṣiṇe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dakṣiṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग) used substantively, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• sthaṇḍilam: a (ritual) ground-spot/altar area
• sthaṇḍilam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthaṇḍila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• kṛtvā: having made
• kṛtvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त); ‘having made’

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देशवाचक-अव्यय)

• saṃskāram: the consecratory rite
• saṃskāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃskāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ācaret: should perform
• ācaret: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-car (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within Vedāṅga/ritual-technical discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Ishvara (one’s chosen Lord/deity)

FAQs

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

It places humility and surrender first (daṇḍavat-pranāma and prayer), teaching that external rites become spiritually effective when grounded in devotion to one’s Lord.

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

Bhakti is shown as the inner preface to ritual action: one bows completely, rises, and prays to the personal Lord (nija-īśvara) before proceeding with the saṃskāra.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual procedure (Kalpa-oriented practice): preparing a proper sthaṇḍila and following ordered steps—prostration, prayer, and then performing the saṃskāra at the designated spot.