Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 35

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

Devanagari script

प्रातर्नद्यादिके स्नात्वा कृत्वा नित्यमतंद्रितः । गृहमागत्य यत्नेन वेदिकां कारयेन्मृदा ॥ ३५ ॥

Transliteration

prātarnadyādike snātvā kṛtvā nityamataṃdritaḥ | gṛhamāgatya yatnena vedikāṃ kārayenmṛdā || 35 ||

Translation

Am Morgen, nachdem man in einem Fluss oder ähnlichem heiligen Wasser gebadet und die täglichen Pflichten ohne Trägheit verrichtet hat, soll man nach Hause zurückkehren und sorgfältig eine Vedikā (Altaranlage) aus Lehm anfertigen.

Word by Word

• प्रातर्: in the morning
• प्रातर्: कालाधिकरण (Time adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रातर् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• नदी-आदिके: in a river etc. (in river and the like)
• नदी-आदिके: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Place-locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (आदि-समास: नदी-आदि)

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable participle); अर्थः—स्नानं कृत्वा (having bathed)

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; अर्थः—कृत्वा (having done)

• नित्यम्: daily/always
• नित्यम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावेन क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial use of adjective)

• अतन्द्रितः: unwearied/without laziness
• अतन्द्रितः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतन्द्रित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifier of implied doer)

• गृहम्: to the house/home
• गृहम्: कर्म (Karma/Object of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• आगत्य: having come (back)
• आगत्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), उपसर्गपूर्वक; अर्थः—आगमनं कृत्वा (having come)

• यत्नेन: with effort/carefully
• यत्नेन: करण (Karaṇa/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• वेदिकाम्: an altar/platform
• वेदिकाम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेदिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• कारयेत्: should have (it) made / should cause to be made
• कारयेत्: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) [णिच् causative: कारय-]
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative)

• मृदा: with clay/earth
• मृदा: करण (Karaṇa/Material instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

FAQs

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

It frames purity and discipline as the foundation of worship: dawn-bathing, faithful daily observances, and then creating a proper ritual space (a clay vedikā) for sacred acts.

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

It supports bhakti through right conduct: devotion is stabilized by nitya-karma and bodily/mental purification, and by preparing an altar where worship and offerings can be done with care.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights kalpa-oriented ritual procedure (proper sequencing of snāna, nitya duties, and preparing a vedikā), emphasizing correct setup for domestic rites.