Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 10

The Description of the Worship of Rāma and Others

Rāmādi-pūjā-vidhāna

Devanagari script

पीठन्यासादिकं कृत्वा ध्यायेद्धृदि रघूत्तमम् । कालांभोधरकांतं च वीरासनसमास्थितम् ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

pīṭhanyāsādikaṃ kṛtvā dhyāyeddhṛdi raghūttamam | kālāṃbhodharakāṃtaṃ ca vīrāsanasamāsthitam || 10 ||

Translation

既已行毕座位安置等前行仪轨（pīṭha-nyāsa），当于心中观想罗阇族至上者罗摩（Raghūttama, Rāma）：光辉如幽黑雨云，安坐于勇士坐（vīrāsana）而不动。

Word by Word

• pīṭha-nyāsa-ādikam: pīṭha-nyāsa and related (rites)
• pīṭha-nyāsa-ādikam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pīṭha (प्रातिपदिक) + nyāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + ādika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (‘पीठस्य न्यासः’), ‘आदिक’ = etc./and the like

• kṛtvā: having done
• kṛtvā: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘कृत्वा’ = having done

• dhyāyet: should meditate
• dhyāyet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhyai (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• hṛdi: in the heart
• hṛdi: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hṛd (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/locative), एकवचन

• raghu-uttamam: Raghūttama (best of Raghu’s line)
• raghu-uttamam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raghu (प्रातिपदिक) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘रघोः उत्तमः’ = best of Raghu’s line)

• kāla-ambhodhara-kāntam: having the beauty of a dark rain-cloud
• kāla-ambhodhara-kāntam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक) + ambhodhara (प्रातिपदिक) + kānta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः/कर्मधारयः (‘कालः अम्भोधरः’ = dark cloud; तस्य कान्तिः यस्य)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• vīra-āsana-samāsthitam: seated in the vīrāsana posture
• vīra-āsana-samāsthitam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक) + āsana (प्रातिपदिक) + sam-ā-sthā (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘समास्थित’ = क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle) from समा-स्था; तत्पुरुषः (‘वीरासनं समास्थितः’)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada the procedural method of dhyāna within mantra-vidhi)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Raghu
• Virasana

FAQs

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

It links outer ritual precision (nyāsa and preliminaries) with inner realization by directing the practitioner to install the deity in the heart through focused meditation on Śrī Rāma.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as intimate inner worship—contemplating Rāma’s form and presence within the heart—supported by disciplined preparatory acts that steady attention and reverence.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse highlights technical ritual-application (prayoga) such as nyāsa—systematic placement/installation used in mantra practice—along with yogic discipline through a stable posture (vīrāsana) for sustained dhyāna.