Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 21

The exposition of the Pañcamī vow to be observed in the twelve months

Devanagari script

गंधपुष्पादिभिः सम्यक्पूजयित्वा महेश्वरम् । जपेत्पञ्चाक्षरी विद्यां शतं चापि सहस्रकम् ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

gaṃdhapuṣpādibhiḥ samyakpūjayitvā maheśvaram | japetpañcākṣarī vidyāṃ śataṃ cāpi sahasrakam || 21 ||

Translation

Nachdem man Maheśvara mit Duft, Blumen und dergleichen gebührend verehrt hat, soll man die fünf-silbige Vidyā (pañcākṣarī) hundertmal, ja sogar tausendmal, wiederholen.

Word by Word

• gandha-puṣpa-ādibhiḥ: with incense, flowers, etc.
• gandha-puṣpa-ādibhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandha (प्रातिपदिक) + puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); तत्पुरुषः—गन्धपुष्पादयः (incense, flowers, etc.)

• samyak: properly
• samyak: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samyak (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• pūjayitvā: having worshipped
• pūjayitvā: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pūj (पूज् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त)

• maheśvaram: Mahēśvara (Great Lord)
• maheśvaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; कर्मधारयः—महान् ईश्वरः

• japet: should recite
• japet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jap (जप् धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/optative), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• pañca-akṣarī: five-syllabled
• pañca-akṣarī: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañca (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + akṣarī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; द्विगुः—पञ्च अक्षराणि यस्याः (five-syllabled)

• vidyām: mantra/vidyā
• vidyām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• śatam: a hundred (times)
• śatam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; numeral used as count-object

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction

• api: also/even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle (समुच्चय/अपि)

• sahasrakam: a thousand (times)
• sahasrakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sahasraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; diminutive/collective sense ‘a thousand (count)’

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Maheshvara (Shiva)

FAQs

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

It teaches a complete devotional method: first perform proper pūjā with tangible offerings, then internalize the worship through disciplined japa of the pañcākṣarī mantra in a fixed count (100 or 1000), uniting external ritual with inner remembrance.

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

Bhakti is expressed here as reverent service (pūjā) followed by repeated mantra-recitation (japa), emphasizing steady, heartfelt practice rather than mere one-time observance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual procedure and disciplined recitation are implied—especially correct mantra-practice (japa-sankhyā, purity of worship), aligning with practical applications of Śikṣā (proper recitation) and Kalpa (ritual method).