Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 40

Nityā-paṭala-prakaraṇa

The Exposition of the Nityā-paṭala

Devanagari script

पीठमृक्षद्रुमैः कृत्वा तत्र देवीं यजेन्निशि । शाल्मलैः कुसुमैः सिद्धद्रव्यैर्मासं तु निर्भयम् ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

pīṭhamṛkṣadrumaiḥ kṛtvā tatra devīṃ yajenniśi | śālmalaiḥ kusumaiḥ siddhadravyairmāsaṃ tu nirbhayam || 40 ||

Translation

以所规定的圣树制成供座（pīṭha）之后，应于夜间在其上礼拜女神；以娑罗蜜罗（śālmali）之花与已成就仪轨的供品（siddha-dravya）奉献，则可一月无惧。

Word by Word

• पीठम्: seat, pedestal
• पीठम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पीठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• ऋक्ष-द्रुमैः: with bear-trees / trees named ṛkṣa (a kind of tree)
• ऋक्ष-द्रुमैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + द्रुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-भाव (Gerund/Absolutive), 'having made'

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Desha-adhikarana (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• देवीम्: the Goddess
• देवीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• यजेत्: one should worship
• यजेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• निशि: at night
• निशि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• शाल्मलैः: with śālmali (silk-cotton) [flowers]
• शाल्मलैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाल्मलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• कुसुमैः: with flowers
• कुसुमैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुसुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• सिद्ध-द्रव्यैः: with efficacious/ritually prepared substances
• सिद्ध-द्रव्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + द्रव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• मासम्: for a month
• मासम्: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); कालपरिमाण (duration)

• तु: indeed, but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; contrast/emphasis)

• निर्भयम्: fearlessly, without fear
• निर्भयम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); क्रियाविशेषणवत् (used adverbially)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a ritual-technical context, consistent with Book 1.3 Vedāṅga-oriented material)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Devī

FAQs

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

It teaches a focused Devī-upāsanā rite: constructing a proper pīṭha, offering specific flowers and consecrated substances, and performing night worship to generate protective spiritual power culminating in “nirbhaya” (freedom from fear) for a stated period.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as disciplined, reverential service—preparing the Goddess’s seat, offering pure items, and worshipping at the prescribed time—showing devotion as both inner faith and precise devotional action.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects ritual-technical competence: correct altar/seat preparation, selection of sanctioned materials (flowers/dravya), and time-specific worship (night), aligning with applied śrauta/smārta procedure and mantra-ritual discipline commonly treated alongside Vedāṅga-style practical instruction.