Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 54

Dharmānukathana

Narration of Dharma

Devanagari script

शुक्लपक्षे चतुर्दश्यामष्टम्यां वापि भूपते । घृतेन मधुना स्नाप्य शिवं तत्साम्यतां व्रजेत् ॥ ५४ ॥

Transliteration

śuklapakṣe caturdaśyāmaṣṭamyāṃ vāpi bhūpate | ghṛtena madhunā snāpya śivaṃ tatsāmyatāṃ vrajet || 54 ||

Translation

হে ভূপতে! শুক্লপক্ষের চতুর্দশী বা অষ্টমীতে ঘি ও মধু দিয়ে শিবের অভিষেক করলে শিব-সাম্যতা, অর্থাৎ শিবসদৃশতা লাভ হয়।

Word by Word

• śuklapakṣe: in the bright fortnight
• śuklapakṣe: Adhikarana (Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śuklapakṣa (śukla + pakṣa)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• caturdaśyām: on the fourteenth day
• caturdaśyām: Adhikarana (Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caturdaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• aṣṭamyām: on the eighth day
• aṣṭamyām: Adhikarana (Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṣṭamī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• vā: or
• vā: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• api: also
• api: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle

• bhūpate: O King
• bhūpate: Sambodhana
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūpati (bhū + pati)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• ghṛtena: with ghee (clarified butter)
• ghṛtena: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ghṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• madhunā: with honey
• madhunā: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• snāpya: having bathed
• snāpya: Purvakalika Kriya
• Type: Verb
• Root: snā (धातु)
• Form: Lyap Pratyaya, Causal

• śivam: Shiva
• śivam: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• tatsāmyatām: equality with Him
• tatsāmyatām: Karma (Goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tatsāmyatā (tad + sāmyatā)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• vrajet: should go / attain
• vrajet: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vraj (धातु)
• Form: Vidhilin Lakara (Potential), Prathama Purusha, Ekavachana

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none (Śiva-abhisheka on specified tithis)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that timed worship on auspicious tithis (Caturdaśī/Aṣṭamī) combined with Śiva-abhiṣeka using sanctifying substances (ghee and honey) yields Śiva-sāmya—spiritual proximity and assimilation to Śiva’s qualities.

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

Bhakti is expressed through reverent, substance-offering worship (abhisheka) and observance of sacred time; devotion becomes a disciplined practice that transforms the devotee toward the deity’s nature.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It uses tithi-based timing (Caturdaśī and Aṣṭamī), reflecting practical calendrical/astronomical application (Jyotiṣa-style ritual timing) for choosing effective days for vrata and pūjā.