Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 38

The Account of the Ekādaśī Vow Observed Throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

समुत्सवविधानेन नीत्वा तां सलिलाशये । कृतांबुस्पर्शनां तत्र संप्रपूज्य विधानतः ॥ ३८ ॥

Transliteration

samutsavavidhānena nītvā tāṃ salilāśaye | kṛtāṃbusparśanāṃ tatra saṃprapūjya vidhānataḥ || 38 ||

Translation

وبحسب نظام الاحتفال (samutsava) تُؤخذ إلى مورد الماء؛ وهناك يُؤدَّى طقس ملامسة الماء (ambusparśana)، ثم تُعبَد وتُكرَّم على الوجه المأمور به وفق الأحكام.

Word by Word

• समुत्सव-विधानेन: by the procedure of the festival
• समुत्सव-विधानेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समुत्सव (प्रातिपदिक) + विधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (samutsavasya vidhānam)

• नीत्वा: having led/taken
• नीत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वकाले

• ताम्: her/that (image)
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सलिल-आशये: in a water-reservoir
• सलिल-आशये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सलिल (प्रातिपदिक) + आशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (salilasya āśayaḥ)

• कृत-अम्बु-स्पर्शनाम्: (her) for whom the water-touch has been performed
• कृत-अम्बु-स्पर्शनाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कृत (कृदन्त) + अम्बु (प्रातिपदिक) + स्पर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन; उपपद/तत्पुरुष-समास; ‘ताम्’ इति विशेषण (one whose water-touching has been done)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• संप्रपूज्य: having duly worshipped
• संप्रपूज्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-प्र-पूज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव

• विधानतः: according to prescription
• विधानतः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb), ‘according to rule’

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue within the Narada Purana’s instructional narrative, traditionally framed to the Sanatkumara brothers)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that devotional worship becomes spiritually effective when performed with śāstric order—procession (utsava-vidhi), purification through water-contact (ambu-sparśa), and then proper worship (pūjā) as per injunctions.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as disciplined service: honoring the deity (or sacred focus of worship) through a reverent festival procession and orderly pūjā, showing that devotion is both heartfelt and methodical in Purāṇic practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is primary: the verse points to vidhi—step-by-step rules for utsava, purification by water, and correct worship—reflecting the applied ritual science used in Purāṇic vrata and pūjā contexts.