Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 178

Nityā-paṭala-prakaraṇa

The Exposition of the Nityā-paṭala

Devanagari script

होमेन सोमवारे च भवेत्प्राग्वन्न संशयः । खादिरेध्मानले तस्य पंचांगैस्तद्घृताप्लुतैः ॥ १७८ ॥

Transliteration

homena somavāre ca bhavetprāgvanna saṃśayaḥ | khādiredhmānale tasya paṃcāṃgaistadghṛtāplutaiḥ || 178 ||

Translation

于星期一行供火祭（homa），必得如前所说之果报，毫无疑惑。其供物当投于以卡迪拉（khadira）木为薪之火中，取其五分，各以酥油润湿而供。

Word by Word

• होमेन: by (means of) oblation
• होमेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• सोमवारे: on Monday
• सोमवारे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोम + वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष: सोमस्य वारः (Monday)

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

• भवेत्: would be/should occur
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• प्राक्: as before/previously
• प्राक्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्राक् (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/काल-अव्यय (adverb: earlier/before)

• वत्: like/as
• वत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Comparative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वत् (अव्यय)
• Form: तुल्यार्थक-अव्यय (comparative particle: like/as)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-निपात (negation particle)

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; idiom: ‘no doubt’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• खादिरेध्मानले: in the fire (fed) with khādira fuel
• खादिरेध्मानले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खादिर + इध्म + अनल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष: खादिरस्य इध्म (khādira fuel) + अनल (fire)

• तस्य: of him/of that
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• पञ्चाङ्गैः: with the five parts
• पञ्चाङ्गैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); द्विगु-समास: पञ्च अङ्गानि

• तद्घृताप्लुतैः: drenched with that ghee
• तद्घृताप्लुतैः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of पञ्चाङ्गैः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् + घृत + आप्लुत (कृदन्त; प्लु/प्लव् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); तत्पुरुष: तेन घृतेन आप्लुत

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta (wonder)

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It emphasizes ritual certainty (niścaya) in Vedic practice: a properly performed Somavāra homa yields the previously promised fruit, highlighting the importance of correct time (vāra) and correct materials (khadira fuel, ghee).

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

Though primarily ritualistic, it supports bhakti indirectly by prescribing disciplined, faith-filled worship through fire-offerings—an outer form that can be aligned with inner devotion and reverence toward the divine.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is central: weekday selection (Somavāra), prescribed fuel (khadira), and the method of offering (pañcāṅga pieces anointed with ghee) reflect technical ritual correctness.