Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 10

The Exposition of the Pratipadā Vrata for the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

होमैर्बल्युपहारैश्च तथा ब्राह्मणतर्पणैः । ततः क्रमेण देवेभ्यः पूजा कार्या पृथक्पृथक् ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

homairbalyupahāraiśca tathā brāhmaṇatarpaṇaiḥ | tataḥ krameṇa devebhyaḥ pūjā kāryā pṛthakpṛthak || 10 ||

Translation

وبالقرابين النارية (هوما)، وبالبَليّ والهدايا المقدَّمة، وكذلك بإجراء التَّرْبَنَة لإكرام البراهمة؛ ثم بعد ذلك تُقام العبادة للآلهة على الترتيب، كلٌّ على حدة.

Word by Word

• होमैः: with fire-offerings (homas)
• होमैः: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: homa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• बलि: oblations (bali)
• बलि: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासपूर्वपद (compound member)

• उपहारैः: offerings, gifts
• उपहारैः: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upahāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

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

• तथा: likewise, also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थ (‘likewise/also’)

• ब्राह्मण: Brahmins
• ब्राह्मण: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासपूर्वपद (compound member)

• तर्पणैः: with satiating offerings (tarpaṇas)
• तर्पणैः: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tarpaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Kāla/Anantara (काल/Sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): क्रम/अनन्तर (‘thereafter’)

• क्रमेण: in sequence, gradually
• क्रमेण: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: krama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययीभूत (adverbial instrumental): ‘in order/gradually’

• देवेभ्यः: to the gods
• देवेभ्यः: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), बहुवचन

• पूजा: worship
• पूजा: Karma (कर्म/Object; with implied ‘to be done’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūjā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कार्या: should be performed
• कार्या: Vidhi (विधि/Obligation predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √kṛ (धातु) + ya (कृदन्त) → kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भाव्य/कर्तव्यतार्थे यत्-प्रत्यय (gerundive: ‘to be done’)

• पृथक्: separately
• पृथक्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pṛthak (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): भेदार्थ (‘separately’)

• पृथक्: each separately
• पृथक्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pṛthak (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), पुनरुक्ति (reduplication for emphasis)

Speaker

Narada (in instruction, within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Brahmanas

FAQs

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

It teaches that worship becomes complete when it includes both offerings to the divine (homa, bali, upahāra) and reverent service to the sacred community (brāhmaṇa-tarpaṇa), done in an orderly, disciplined ritual sequence.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as careful, respectful worship—honouring each deity with focused attention (pṛthak pṛthak) rather than a careless, mixed approach—showing devotion through right method and reverence.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure) through emphasis on krama (proper order) and correct components of worship—homa, bali/upahāra, and tarpaṇa—indicating structured liturgical practice.