Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 44

The Description of the Worship of Rāma and Others

Rāmādi-pūjā-vidhāna

Devanagari script

वश्याकृष्टौ चाष्टगन्धैः सम्पूज्य च यथाविधि । चितांगारादिना चैव ताडनोच्चाटनादिकम् ॥ ४४ ॥

Transliteration

vaśyākṛṣṭau cāṣṭagandhaiḥ sampūjya ca yathāvidhi | citāṃgārādinā caiva tāḍanoccāṭanādikam || 44 ||

Translation

行伏摄（vaśya，令其归顺）与招引（ākarṣaṇa，吸引）之法者，当先依仪以“八香”（aṣṭa-gandha）恭敬供奉。继而以焦炭余烬等物，施行如打击（tāḍana）、驱逐（uccāṭana）及其类诸作业。

Word by Word

• वश्याकृष्टौ: in subjugation and attraction
• वश्याकृष्टौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वश्य + आकृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन (locative singular); द्वन्द्वः (in vaśya and attraction)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• अष्टगन्धैः: with the eight fragrances
• अष्टगन्धैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्ट + गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन (instrumental plural)

• सम्पूज्य: having worshipped
• सम्पूज्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + पूज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-लोप/ल्यप् (gerund in -ya), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वक्रिया (having duly worshipped)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• यथाविधि: according to the prescribed method
• यथाविधि: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा + विधि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्ययीभाव-समास; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: according to rule)

• चिताङ्गारादिना: with funeral-pyre embers and the like
• चिताङ्गारादिना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिता + अङ्गार + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन (instrumental singular); -आदि-समास (with funeral-pyre embers etc.)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

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

• ताडनउच्चाटनआदिकम्: beating, driving away, and the like
• ताडनउच्चाटनआदिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताडन + उच्चाटन + आदि + क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (nom./acc. sg.; contextually object/collection); द्वन्द्व-सदृश-समाहारः (beating, expulsion, etc.)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It shows that even in technical mantra-karmas the rite begins with proper pūjā and adherence to vidhi (rule), emphasizing ritual order and disciplined procedure before any operative act is attempted.

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

Bhakti is implied through the primacy of worship (sampūjya) performed yathāvidhi; the verse places reverential pūjā first, indicating that ritual power is framed within devotion and prescribed conduct rather than mere technique.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects applied ritual science (kalpa/prayoga) and mantra-karman procedure—using specified upacāras like aṣṭa-gandha and defined actions (uccāṭana, tāḍana) in a rule-governed sequence.