Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 35

The Explanation of the Twelve-Month Caturthī Vrata

Devanagari script

पूजां निवेदयेद्भक्तियुक्तो मोदकपंचकम् । आचमय्य नमस्कृत्य संप्रार्थ्य च विसर्ज्जयेत् ॥ ३५ ॥

Transliteration

pūjāṃ nivedayedbhaktiyukto modakapaṃcakam | ācamayya namaskṛtya saṃprārthya ca visarjjayet || 35 ||

Translation

Von Bhakti erfüllt soll man im Gottesdienst fünf Modakas darbringen. Danach vollziehe man das Ācamana, verneige sich ehrfürchtig, spreche ein Gebet und schließe den Ritus respektvoll mit der rituellen Entlassung (Visarjana).

Word by Word

• पूजाम्: worship/ritual offering
• पूजाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• निवेदयेत्: should offer/present
• निवेदयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि+विद् (धातु) [णिच् causative: निवेदयति]
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• भक्ति-युक्तः: endowed with devotion
• भक्ति-युक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + युक्त (कृदन्त, √युज्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः (instrumental-determinative: 'endowed with devotion')

• मोदक-पञ्चकम्: five modakas (sweet dumplings)
• मोदक-पञ्चकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोदक (प्रातिपदिक) + पञ्चक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); द्विगु-समासः (numerical compound: 'a set of five modakas')

• आचमय्य: having performed ācamana (sipping water)
• आचमय्य: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ+चम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable participial form): 'having sipped (water)'

• नमस्कृत्य: having saluted
• नमस्कृत्य: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नमस्+√कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव: 'having bowed/saluted'

• संप्रार्थ्य: having prayed
• संप्रार्थ्य: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+प्र+अर्थ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव: 'having prayed/entreated'

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• विसर्ज्जयेत्: should dismiss/let go (conclude the rite)
• विसर्ज्जयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि+सृज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

Speaker

Narada (teaching a procedural rule within a devotional ritual context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It teaches that worship is completed not only by offering food (naivedya) but also by inner devotion (bhakti), purification (ācamana), reverence (namaskāra), heartfelt prayer, and a proper ritual conclusion (visarjana).

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

Bhakti is presented as the essential qualifying attitude: the offering of modakas becomes spiritually meaningful when performed with devotion, humility, and prayerful surrender, culminating in a respectful closure of the rite.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual procedure is emphasized—especially ācamana (purificatory sipping) and visarjana (formal dismissal)—reflecting applied Kalpa/Smārta-ritual discipline rather than astrology or grammar.