Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 74

The Explanation of the Twelve-Month Caturthī Vrata

Devanagari script

विधाय विन्यसेत्पीठे सायुधं च सवाहनम् । उपचारैः षोडशभिः समभ्यर्च्य विधानतः ॥ ७४ ॥

Transliteration

vidhāya vinyasetpīṭhe sāyudhaṃ ca savāhanam | upacāraiḥ ṣoḍaśabhiḥ samabhyarcya vidhānataḥ || 74 ||

Translation

Nachdem man die Anordnung bereitet hat, soll man (die Gottheit) auf dem Sitz (pīṭha) einsetzen, zusammen mit den göttlichen Waffen und dem Reittier. Dann soll man sie gemäß der Vorschrift mit den sechzehn rituellen Diensten (ṣoḍaśopacāra) ordnungsgemäß verehren.

Word by Word

• vidhāya: having prepared/arranged
• vidhāya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-dhā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘विधाय’ = कृत्वा/रचयित्वा

• vinyaset: should place
• vinyaset: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-ni-as (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• pīṭhe: on a pedestal/seat
• pīṭhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pīṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• sa-āyudham: with weapons
• sa-āyudham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (उपसर्ग/सह) + āyudha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘आयुधेन सह’

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• sa-vāhanam: with (his) vehicle
• sa-vāhanam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (उपसर्ग/सह) + vāhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘वाहनेन सह’

• upacāraiḥ: with offerings/services
• upacāraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upacāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन; करण

• ṣoḍaśabhiḥ: with sixteen
• ṣoḍaśabhiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṣoḍaśan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण

• samabhyarcya: having worshipped properly
• samabhyarcya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-abhi-arc (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘समभ्यर्च्य’ = सम्यगभ्यर्च्य

• vidhānataḥ: according to the prescribed rule
• vidhānataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vidhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb) ‘-तः’; प्रकारवाचक

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Saṅkaṣṭa-vrata (implied continuation)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It teaches that devotion becomes complete when expressed through disciplined worship—installing the deity with proper symbols (weapons and vehicle) and honoring the Lord through the full, rule-based sequence of offerings.

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

Bhakti here is shown as reverent service (upacāra-sevā): the devotee approaches the deity respectfully, establishes the presence, and offers the traditional sixteen services as an outward form of inner surrender.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure) through precise worship-steps—sthapana on the pīṭha and the ṣoḍaśopacāra sequence—emphasizing correct method (vidhānataḥ) in pūjā practice.