Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 82

Nityā-paṭala-prakaraṇa

The Exposition of the Nityā-paṭala

Devanagari script

अंशुकैरर्चयेद्देवीं मासमात्रं सुगंधिभिः । मुच्यते पापकृत्यादिदुःखौघैरितरैरपि ॥ ८२ ॥

Transliteration

aṃśukairarcayeddevīṃ māsamātraṃ sugaṃdhibhiḥ | mucyate pāpakṛtyādiduḥkhaughairitarairapi || 82 ||

Translation

إن عَبَدَ المرءُ الإلهة شهرًا واحدًا بقرابين الأقمشة (أمشوكا) والموادّ العطرة، تحرّر من سيل الآلام الذي يبدأ بالأفعال الآثمة—ومن سائر الشدائد أيضًا.

Word by Word

• अंशुकैः: with garments/cloths
• अंशुकैः: करण (Karaṇa/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अंशुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instr. 3), बहुवचन (pl.)

• अर्चयेत्: should worship
• अर्चयेत्: क्रिया (action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg.)

• देवीम्: the Goddess
• देवीम्: कर्म (Karma/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.)

• मासमात्रम्: for just a month
• मासमात्रम्: कर्म (Karma/object of duration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास-मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.); कालावधि (duration)

• सुगन्धिभिः: with fragrant (items)
• सुगन्धिभिः: करण-विशेषण (Karaṇa-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुगन्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (m./n. as adj.), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instr. 3), बहुवचन (pl.); विशेषण (qualifier)

• मुच्यते: is released
• मुच्यते: क्रिया (action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg.)

• पापकृत्यादिदुःखौघैः: from masses of sufferings beginning with sinful deeds
• पापकृत्यादिदुःखौघैः: अपादान (Apādāna/separation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप-कृत्य-आदि-दुःख-ओघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instr. 3), बहुवचन (pl.); अपादानार्थे (Instr. used with passive for separation)

• इतरैः: other (masses)
• इतरैः: अपादान-विशेषण (Apādāna-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इतर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instr. 3), बहुवचन (pl.); विशेषण (qualifier)

• अपि: also, even
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थ-अव्यय (particle: also/even)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in dialogue context with the Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Devi

FAQs

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

It presents a concise prayoga (ritual application): sustained Devi-archana for a month with specific upacharas (cloth and fragrance) is said to purify karmic taints and thereby reduce the resulting duḥkha (suffering).

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

It emphasizes steady, time-bound worship (māsamātram) with loving offerings, teaching that consistent devotional service to the Devī can dissolve sin-born distress and bring relief from wider worldly afflictions.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Practical ritual discipline is implied: proper upacāra-selection (aṃśuka, sugandha), duration-based observance (monthly vrata-style practice), and the dharmic logic of karma/phalavāda—core to applied kalpa/ācāra traditions.