Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 145

Nityā-paṭala-prakaraṇa

The Exposition of the Nityā-paṭala

Devanagari script

सप्तरात्रप्रयोगेण नरो नारी नृपोऽपि वा । दासवद्वशमायाति चित्तप्राणादि चार्पयेत् ॥ १४५ ॥

Transliteration

saptarātraprayogeṇa naro nārī nṛpo'pi vā | dāsavadvaśamāyāti cittaprāṇādi cārpayet || 145 ||

Translation

以七夜之法修行，无论男子、女子，乃至国王，亦将如仆从般可被调伏；此后，行者应奉献并归依其心、其命息（prāṇa）及其余一切。

Word by Word

• सप्त-रात्र-प्रयोगेण: by a seven-night practice
• सप्त-रात्र-प्रयोगेण: Instrument (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्त (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रयोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सप्त रात्रयः यस्य सः प्रयोगः)

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• नारी: a woman
• नारी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• नृपः: a king
• नृपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; inclusion)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• दास-वत्: like a servant
• दास-वत्: Prakara (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दास (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित-प्रत्यय)
• Form: उपमान-अव्यय (adverbial; ‘like’)

• वशम्: into subjection
• वशम्: Gati/Karma (गति/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/गति), एकवचन; ‘वशम्’ = अधीनताम्

• आयाति: comes/enters
• आयाति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √या (धातु) + आ- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लट् (present indicative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• चित्त-प्राण-आदि: mind, vital breath, etc.
• चित्त-प्राण-आदि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्त (प्रातिपदिक) + प्राण (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्वाभासः/तत्पुरुषः (‘mind, life-breath, etc.’ as a set)

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

• अर्पयेत्: should offer/surrender
• अर्पयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अर्प् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Narada (instructional voice within the technical-ritual section, traditionally framed in Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Saptarātra (seven-night rite)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes that ritual practice (prayoga) is considered powerful and consequential; it also stresses that the practitioner must dedicate mind and life-force (citta–prāṇa) as an act of disciplined offering, implying responsibility and inner control alongside outer technique.

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

While the verse is framed as a technical rite, its closing instruction—offering the mind and prāṇa—aligns with bhakti’s inner principle of arpaṇa (dedication). It suggests that efficacy is not merely mechanical, but tied to focused surrender and intention.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights prayoga-vidhi (applied ritual procedure) and disciplined mental focus—skills associated with technical ritual knowledge in the Vedāṅga-oriented portions of Book 1.3 (e.g., correct application, timing/sequence, and the practitioner’s controlled intention).