Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 25

The Exposition of the Pratipadā Vrata for the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

देवाय षोडशान्यानि भुज्यंते षोडशात्मना । सौवर्णं शिवमभ्यर्च्य कुम्भोपरि विधानवित् ॥ २५ ॥

Transliteration

devāya ṣoḍaśānyāni bhujyaṃte ṣoḍaśātmanā | sauvarṇaṃ śivamabhyarcya kumbhopari vidhānavit || 25 ||

Translation

Der Kundige der rituellen Vorschrift (vidhāna) soll Śiva verehren, aus Gold gestaltet und auf einem geweihten Kumbha aufgestellt; dann bringt er, in sechzehnfacher Wesensart, die sechzehn rituellen Gaben für die Gottheit dar und nimmt sie gemäß dem Ritus zu sich.

Word by Word

• देवाय: for the god (deity)
• देवाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; सम्प्रदान (for the deity)

• षोडश: sixteen
• षोडश: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षोडश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्या-विशेषण; 'अन्यानि' इत्यस्य संख्या

• अन्यानि: other (items)
• अन्यानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; कर्तृ-सम्बद्ध (with passive verb as logical subject)

• भुज्यन्ते: are consumed
• भुज्यन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive: 'are eaten/consumed')

• षोडश-आत्मना: by one of sixteenfold nature / with sixteen aspects
• षोडश-आत्मना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षोडश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण (instrumental: 'by/with sixteenfold self/with sixteen aspects')

• सौवर्णम्: golden
• सौवर्णम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सौवर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; शिवम्-विशेषणम्

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; 'अभ्यर्च्य' इत्यस्य कर्म

• अभ्यर्च्य: having worshipped
• अभ्यर्च्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय; पूर्वक्रिया (having worshipped)

• कुम्भ-उपरि: upon the pot
• कुम्भ-उपरि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कुम्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + उपरि (अव्यय)
• Form: उपरि (अव्यय: preposition-like adverb) + षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध (implicit: 'on the pot'); समास न (sandhi only)

• विधान-वित्: one who knows the procedure/ritual rules
• विधान-वित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधान (प्रातिपदिक) + विद् (धातु) → वित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्ता

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue framework with Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Mauna-vrata (continuation)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes vidhāna—correct sacred procedure—showing that worship becomes spiritually efficacious when the Deity is installed (on the kumbha), honored with complete offerings, and received as consecrated prasāda.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through careful upacāra (service-offerings): honoring the Deity with fullness (sixteenfold worship) and reverently receiving what is sanctified, turning ritual into a disciplined act of devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual application aligned with Kalpa (procedural discipline): installing worship on a kumbha, following prescribed upacāras, and understanding how offerings become sanctified remnants within a regulated rite.