Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 16

The Exposition of the Pratipadā Vrata for the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

प्ररूढसप्तधान्यैश्च नारगैर्बीजपूरकैः । अभ्युक्ष्याक्षततोयेन मंत्रेणेत्थं क्षमापयेत् ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

prarūḍhasaptadhānyaiśca nāragairbījapūrakaiḥ | abhyukṣyākṣatatoyena maṃtreṇetthaṃ kṣamāpayet || 16 ||

Translation

Mit sieben Arten gekeimter Körner, mit Granatäpfeln und Zitronenfrüchten (Citrons) soll man mit Wasser besprengen, das ungebrochene Reiskörner (akṣata) enthält; und mit dem Mantra soll man auf diese Weise um Vergebung bitten und die verletzte heilige Macht besänftigen.

Word by Word

• prarūḍha: sprouted
• prarūḍha: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-√ruh (धातु) → prarūḍha (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Past participle used adjectivally; Instrumental plural agreement with saptadhānyaiḥ (understood as part of compound)

• saptadhānyaiḥ: with the seven grains
• saptadhānyaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sapta-dhānya (प्रातिपदिक; sapta + dhānya)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd), Plural

• ca: and
• ca: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• nāragaiḥ: with nāraga fruits
• nāragaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāraga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd), Plural; likely ‘citrons/lemons’ (nāranga-type fruits)

• bījapūrakaiḥ: with citrons (bījapūraka)
• bījapūrakaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bīja-pūraka (प्रातिपदिक; bīja + pūraka)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Plural; commonly ‘citron’ (bījapūraka)

• abhyukṣya: having sprinkled
• abhyukṣya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√ukṣ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्/त्वा-प्रत्यय)

• akṣata: (with) unbroken rice
• akṣata: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: akṣata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd), Singular; in compound with toya

• toyena: with water
• toyena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: toya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd), Singular

• maṃtreṇa: with a mantra
• maṃtreṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Singular

• ittham: thus/in this manner
• ittham: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ittham (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• kṣamāpayet: one should cause (him) to forgive / seek pardon
• kṣamāpayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṣam (धातु) (causative/णिच्: kṣamāpay-)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/Optative), 3rd person, Singular; Causative (णिच्) Parasmaipada

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a ritual-instruction context; traditionally framed within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

FAQs

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

It teaches a concrete method of kṣamā (seeking forgiveness) through auspicious substances and mantra—showing that errors in worship are remedied by humility, purification (sprinkling), and sincere appeasement.

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

Bhakti is expressed here as reverent repair: when one fears an offense in worship, one does not abandon practice, but returns with offerings, purification, and heartfelt prayer for pardon.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa-style ritual procedure: selection of auspicious dravyas (sapta-dhānya, akṣata, fruits), use of abhiṣeka/sprinkling (abhyukṣaṇa), and mantra-based prayoga for expiation.