Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 171

Nityā-paṭala-prakaraṇa

The Exposition of the Nityā-paṭala

Devanagari script

प्राग्वद्दारेषु जुहुयात्क्रमात्पुष्पैस्तु सप्तभिः । प्रोक्तेषु स्तंभनं शत्रोर्भंगो वा भवति ध्रुवम् ॥ १७१ ॥

Transliteration

prāgvaddāreṣu juhuyātkramātpuṣpaistu saptabhiḥ | prokteṣu staṃbhanaṃ śatrorbhaṃgo vā bhavati dhruvam || 171 ||

Translation

如前所说，应按次第在门槛处以七朵花行投供。依此法而行，敌人必定被“stambhana”（镇缚、令其停滞）——否则亦必败亡。

Word by Word

• प्राक्: as before/previously
• प्राक्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्राक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/पूर्वत्ववाचक (adverb: previously)

• वत्: like
• वत्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वत् (अव्यय/तद्धितार्थ)
• Form: अव्यय; तुलनार्थक (comparative particle ‘like/as’)

• दारेषु: at the doors/gates
• दारेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), बहुवचन

• जुहुयात्: should offer (into fire)
• जुहुयात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हु (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative); परस्मैपद; प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• क्रमात्: in sequence
• क्रमात्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययीभूतं; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) ‘in order/gradually’

• पुष्पैः: with flowers
• पुष्पैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन

• तु: indeed
• तु: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• सप्तभिः: with seven
• सप्तभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन

• प्रोक्तेषु: among those mentioned
• प्रोक्तेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रोक्त (कृदन्त; प्र+√वच्, क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), बहुवचन; ‘in the (flowers) that have been stated’

• स्तंभनम्: paralysis/immobilization
• स्तंभनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तम्भन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता-पद), एकवचन

• शत्रोः: of the enemy
• शत्रोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• भंगः: defeat/breaking
• भंगः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक निपात (disjunctive particle ‘or’)

• भवति: happens/occurs
• भवति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present); परस्मैपद; प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• ध्रुवम्: surely
• ध्रुवम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययीभूतं; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) ‘certainly’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within a technical/ritual teaching context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: raudra

FAQs

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

It presents a technical karma-kāṇḍa procedure where correct sequence and precise materials (seven flowers) are said to produce definite protective outcomes, emphasizing disciplined ritual order (krama) and fidelity to injunctions (vidhi).

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

Bhakti is not explicit here; the verse belongs to a technical-ritual section (Book 1.3). Indirectly, it reflects the Purāṇic idea that reverent, rule-following performance of prescribed acts can support a devotee’s protection and stability.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual procedure—ordered performance (krama), specified count (seven), and correct locus (doorways)—a practical karma-kāṇḍa discipline aligned with technical instruction found alongside Vedāṅga-style precision.