Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 46

द्वादशमासेषु अष्टमी-व्रत-कथनम्

Account of the Aṣṭamī Vow Across the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

स्थाप्य लिंगं ततो गंधैः पुष्पैर्धूपैश्च दीपकैः । नैवेद्यैरर्चयेद्भक्त्या दध्यक्षतफलादिभिः ॥ ४६ ॥

Transliteration

sthāpya liṃgaṃ tato gaṃdhaiḥ puṣpairdhūpaiśca dīpakaiḥ | naivedyairarcayedbhaktyā dadhyakṣataphalādibhiḥ || 46 ||

Translation

بعد تثبيت اللِّينغا (liṅga)، فليُعبَدْ بخشوعٍ وبَكتي بالعطور والزهور والبخور والمصابيح، ومع قرابين الطعام (naivedya) مثل اللبن الرائب (dadhi) والأرز غير المكسور (akṣata) والثمار ونحوها.

Word by Word

• स्थाप्य: having installed
• स्थाप्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund); ‘having established/placed’

• लिङ्गम्: the liṅga (Śiva emblem)
• लिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/अपादानार्थक-प्रयोग (then/thereafter)

• गन्धैः: with fragrances
• गन्धैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

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

• धूपैः: with incense
• धूपैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

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

• दीपकैः: with lamps
• दीपकैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीपक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• नैवेद्यैः: with food-offerings
• नैवेद्यैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैवेद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• अर्चयेत्: should worship
• अर्चयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; Parasmaipada; ‘should worship’

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• दधि-अक्षत-फल-आदिभिः: with curd, unbroken rice, fruits, etc.
• दधि-अक्षत-फल-आदिभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दधि (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षत (प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; Instrumental, Plural; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (dadhi ca akṣatāni ca phalāni ca …) with ‘ādi’ indicating etc.

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a ritual-instruction context, within the Narada Purana dialogue framework)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Dūrvāṣṭamī-vrata (contextual continuation)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Liṅga)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that once the liṅga is स्थापित (properly installed), worship becomes complete through bhakti expressed via the standard upacāras—fragrance, flowers, incense, lamp, and naivedya—showing devotion through reverent offerings.

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

Bhakti is highlighted as the inner force that makes external ritual meaningful: the same offerings (gandha, puṣpa, dhūpa, dīpa, naivedya) become true worship when performed “bhaktyā,” i.e., with heartfelt devotion rather than mere formality.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects practical kalpa/ācāra (ritual procedure): sequencing—installation first, then upacāra-based worship—and the customary naivedya items (dadhi, akṣata, fruits) used in pūjā.