Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 16

The Description of the Caturdaśī Vrata Observed throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

अत्र लिंगव्रतं चापि कर्त्तव्यं पापनाशनम् । पंचामृतैस्तु संस्नाप्य लिंगमालिप्य कुंकुमैः ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

atra liṃgavrataṃ cāpi karttavyaṃ pāpanāśanam | paṃcāmṛtaistu saṃsnāpya liṃgamālipya kuṃkumaiḥ || 16 ||

Translation

هنا ينبغي أيضًا أداء «لينغا-فراتا»، وهو نذرٌ يمحو الخطايا. فبعد أن يُغسَّل اللينغا بالبانتشامريتا، أي الأخلاط الخمسة المقدسة، يُدهَن اللينغا بالكُنكُما، وهو الزنجفر الأحمر المائل إلى لون الزعفران.

Word by Word

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (अव्यय-क्रियाविशेषण)

• लिङ्गव्रतम्: the liṅga-vow
• लिङ्गव्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd—प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘vow of/for the liṅga’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• कर्तव्यं: to be done/should be performed
• कर्तव्यं: Vidhi (विधेय/आवश्यकता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्तव्य (कृदन्त; कृ धातु)
• Form: Gerundive/obligatory participle (तव्यत्), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st—प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• पापनाशनम्: sin-destroying
• पापनाशनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + नाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st—प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘destroyer of sin’

• पञ्चामृतैः: with the five nectars (pañcāmṛta)
• पञ्चामृतैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च (प्रातिपदिक) + अमृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd—तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); द्विगु-समास ‘five nectars’

• तु: indeed/and then
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), contrast/emphasis

• संस्नाप्य: having bathed (it)
• संस्नाप्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+स्ना (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय; ल्यप्), ‘having bathed/washed’; indeclinable verbal form

• लिङ्गम्: the liṅga
• लिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd—द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• आलिप्य: having anointed
• आलिप्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ+लिप् (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय; ल्यप्), ‘having smeared/anointed’; indeclinable verbal form

• कुङ्कुमैः: with saffron/vermilion
• कुङ्कुमैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुङ्कुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd—तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

Speaker

Narada (narrating teachings received in the discourse with Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Liṅga-vrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Linga
• Panchamrita
• Kunkuma

FAQs

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

It presents the Liṅga-vrata as a pāpa-nāśana (sin-removing) observance, emphasizing ritual purity through pañcāmṛta bathing and devotional honor through anointing the Liṅga with kuṅkuma.

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

Bhakti is expressed through tangible upacāras (acts of worship): abhiṣeka (ritual bathing) and lepa (anointing). The verse frames devotion as disciplined service (vrata) offered with reverence to the deity’s emblem, the Liṅga.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights kalpa-prayoga (ritual procedure): the correct sequence of abhiṣeka using pañcāmṛta and subsequent anointing with kuṅkuma—an applied, rule-based aspect of śrauta/smārta ritual culture rather than grammar or astrology.