Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 30

The Narration of the Trayodaśī Vow Observed Throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

ताम्रे वा मृन्मये वापि सौवर्णे राजते तथा । रतिकामौ प्रविन्यस्य गंधाद्यैः सम्यगर्चयेत् ॥ ३० ॥

Transliteration

tāmre vā mṛnmaye vāpi sauvarṇe rājate tathā | ratikāmau pravinyasya gaṃdhādyaiḥ samyagarcayet || 30 ||

Translation

سواء أكان من نحاسٍ أم من طينٍ أم من ذهبٍ أم من فضة، ينبغي أن تُنصَّب صورةُ راتي وكاما زوجًا نصبًا صحيحًا، ثم تُعبَد على الوجه اللائق بالعطور وسائر القرابين.

Word by Word

• ताम्रे: in/into a copper (vessel)
• ताम्रे: अधिकरण (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताम्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; पात्र/आधारवाचक

• वा: or
• वा: विकल्प (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (or)

• मृन्मये: in/into an earthen (vessel)
• मृन्मये: अधिकरण (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृन्मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ‘मृद्-मय’ (clay-made)

• वा: or
• वा: विकल्प (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक

• अपि: also
• अपि: समुच्चय (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि-कार (also/even)

• सौवर्णे: in/into a golden (vessel)
• सौवर्णे: अधिकरण (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौवर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ‘golden’ (vessel)

• राजते: in/into a silver (vessel)
• राजते: अधिकरण (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ‘silver’ (vessel)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: समुच्चय (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; ‘likewise/also’

• रति-कामौ: Rati and Kāma
• रति-कामौ: कर्म (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रति (प्रातिपदिक) + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (Rati and Kāma)

• प्रविन्यस्य: having placed/installed
• प्रविन्यस्य: पूर्वक्रिया (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√विन्/√वेश् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वा-समकक्ष अव्ययभाव (absolutive); ‘having placed/installed’ (here: having set in)

• गन्ध-आद्यैः: with perfumes and the like
• गन्ध-आद्यैः: करण (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; ‘गन्धादयः’ (perfumes etc.)

• सम्यक्: properly
• सम्यक्: क्रियाविशेषण (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (properly)

• अर्चयेत्: should worship
• अर्चयेत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Rati-Kāma-vrata (icon-worship step)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Rati
• Kama

FAQs

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

It emphasizes correct ritual order—installation (pratiṣṭhā/nyāsa) followed by proper worship—showing that devotion is expressed through disciplined, rule-guided pūjā, regardless of the icon’s material.

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

Bhakti here is practical and devotional: honoring the deity-form through reverent installation and offerings like fragrance, demonstrating attentive service (sevā) rather than mere sentiment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure) and allied pūjā-vidhi—selection of materials, installation, and upacāras such as gandha (perfumes) used in formal worship.