Shloka 32

Procedure for the Guḍa-dhenū (Jaggery-Cow) Gift; Ten Dhenu-dānas; Yearlong Gaṅgā Worship and Darśana

Devanagari script

अष्टमूर्तिधरां देवीं दिव्यरूपां निरीक्ष्य च । शालितंदुलप्रस्थेन द्विप्रस्थपयसा तथा ॥ ३२ ॥

Transliteration

aṣṭamūrtidharāṃ devīṃ divyarūpāṃ nirīkṣya ca | śālitaṃdulaprasthena dviprasthapayasā tathā || 32 ||

Translation

وبعد أن يتأمّل المرءُ الإلهةَ الحاملةَ للهيئات الثماني (أشتا-مورتي)، المتلألئةَ بصورةٍ سماوية، فليقدّم قربانًا مقدارَ برستها واحدة من الأرزّ الجيّد، وكذلك برستَتين من اللبن.

Word by Word

• अष्ट-मूर्ति-धराम्: (her) who bears eight forms
• अष्ट-मूर्ति-धराम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्ट + मूर्ति + धरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—अष्ट मूर्तयः यस्याः सा (बहुव्रीहिः) इति अर्थे प्रचलितः, रूपतः अष्टमूर्तिधरा (तत्पुरुष-रचना: अष्टमूर्तिं धरति)

• देवीम्: the goddess
• देवीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• दिव्य-रूपाम्: of divine form
• दिव्य-रूपाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य + रूपा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—दिव्यं रूपं यस्याः सा

• निरीक्ष्य: having beheld
• निरीक्ष्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund); ‘having looked at/observed’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction)

• शालि-तण्डुल-प्रस्थेन: with a prastha-measure of rice grains
• शालि-तण्डुल-प्रस्थेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शालि + तण्डुल + प्रस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; समासः—शालिनः तण्डुलाः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) + तेषां प्रस्थः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• द्वि-प्रस्थ-पयसा: with milk of two-prastha measure
• द्वि-प्रस्थ-पयसा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वि + प्रस्थ + पयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (पयस्), तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः—द्वौ प्रस्थौ प्रमाणं यस्य तत् पयः

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

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue, traditionally recounting teachings to/through Sanatkumara lineages in the Narada Purana narrative frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Devi

FAQs

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

The verse links darśana (reverent beholding of the Goddess in her divine form) with a concrete act of dharma—measured offering (dāna/naivedya)—showing that devotion is completed through disciplined ritual action.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as darśana followed by seva through simple, sattvic offerings (rice and milk). The emphasis is not on extravagance, but on purity, measure, and sincerity in worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied through the specified quantities (prastha measures) and the correct materials for offering, reflecting a rule-based approach to worship typical of Purāṇic ritual prescriptions.