Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 9

The Exposition of the Pratipadā Vrata for the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

तस्यामादौ तु संपूज्यो ब्रह्मा वह्निवपुर्धरः । पाद्यार्ध्यपुष्पधूपैश्च वस्त्रालंकारभोजनैः ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

tasyāmādau tu saṃpūjyo brahmā vahnivapurdharaḥ | pādyārdhyapuṣpadhūpaiśca vastrālaṃkārabhojanaiḥ || 9 ||

Translation

In diesem Ritus ist zuerst Brahmā—dessen Leib von feuriger Natur ist—gebührend zu verehren: mit Fußwasser (pādya) und Arghya, dazu Blumen und Räucherwerk, ebenso Gewänder, Schmuck und Speise.

Word by Word

• तस्याम्: in that (rite/occasion)
• तस्याम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• आदौ: at first, in the beginning
• आदौ: Kāla/Avadhi (काल/Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययीभूत (adverbial locative used as indeclinable): ‘at the beginning’

• तु: indeed, then
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थ (emphasis/contrast)

• संपूज्यः: to be duly worshipped
• संपूज्यः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-√pūj (धातु) + ya (कृदन्त) → saṃpūjya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भाव्य/कर्तव्यतार्थे यत्-प्रत्यय (gerundive: ‘to be duly worshipped’)

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वह्नि: fire
• वह्नि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vahni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद (compound member)

• वपुः: body, form
• वपुः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vapus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद (compound member)

• धरः: bearing, having
• धरः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘bearing/holding’ (agent-noun)

• पाद्य: water for washing feet
• पाद्य: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pādya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); समासपूर्वपद (compound member)

• अर्घ्य: offering-water (arghya)
• अर्घ्य: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arghya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासपूर्वपद (compound member)

• पुष्प: flowers
• पुष्प: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासपूर्वपद (compound member)

• धूपैः: incense
• धूपैः: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• वस्त्र: garments
• वस्त्र: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vastra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासपूर्वपद (compound member)

• अलंकार: ornaments
• अलंकार: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: alaṃkāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासपूर्वपद (compound member)

• भोजनैः: food offerings
• भोजनैः: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhojana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Agni (implied by vahnivapu)

FAQs

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

It establishes the correct ritual order: the rite begins by honoring Brahmā as the presiding cosmic principle, using complete upacāras (formal offerings), so the worship proceeds with purity, authority, and auspiciousness.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as disciplined reverence—offering padya, arghya, flowers, incense, clothing, ornaments, and food with respect—showing devotion through careful, traditional service (sevā) rather than mere sentiment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure) through the specification of upacāras and the mandated sequence of worship, guiding how a pūjā is structured in practice.