Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 36

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

Devanagari script

गोमयेनोपलिप्याथ कृत्वा पुष्पोपशोभिताम् । तत्रास्तीर्य कुशान्विप्रऋषीन्सप्त समर्चयेत् ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

gomayenopalipyātha kṛtvā puṣpopaśobhitām | tatrāstīrya kuśānvipraṛṣīnsapta samarcayet || 36 ||

Translation

Dann, nachdem man es mit Kuhdung bestrichen und mit Blumen geschmückt hat, soll man dort Kuśa-Gras ausbreiten und die sieben Brahmanen-ṛṣis ordnungsgemäß verehren.

Word by Word

• गोमयेन: with cow-dung
• गोमयेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोमय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• उपलिप्य: having plastered/smeared
• उपलिप्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + लिप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) का ल्यप्-आदेश (lyap after upasarga): उपलिप्य = उपलिप् + य; अर्थः—लेपनं कृत्वा (having plastered/smeared)

• अथ: then
• अथ: सम्बन्ध/अव्यय (Discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (sequence marker)

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

• पुष्प-उपशोभिताम्: adorned with flowers
• पुष्प-उपशोभिताम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + उपशोभित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; उप + शुभ्/शोभ्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (of वेदिकाम् understood); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (पुष्पैः उपशोभिता)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: देशाधिकरण (Place adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• आस्तीर्य: having spread/laid out
• आस्तीर्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + स्तॄ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) का ल्यप्-आदेश: आस्तीर्य; अर्थः—विस्तार्य/आस्तरणं कृत्वा (having spread/laid)

• कुशान्: kuśa grass (blades)
• कुशान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• विप्र-ऋषीन्: brahmin sages
• विप्र-ऋषीन्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक) + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः—कर्मधारयः (विप्राश्च ते ऋषयः)

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: विशेषण (Qualifier of ऋषीन्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक (numeral), अव्ययवत्/अव्यक्त-रूप (indeclinable-like numeral used as adjective)

• समर्चयेत्: should worship duly
• समर्चयेत्: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Sapta Rishis

FAQs

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

It teaches śauca (ritual purity) and proper pūjā-krama: sanctifying the worship space with gomaya, establishing sacred seating with kuśa, and honoring the Sapta Ṛṣis as custodians of Vedic transmission.

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

Bhakti is expressed through careful upacāra (reverent service): beautifying the space, preparing the seat, and offering respectful worship to venerable sages—actions that cultivate humility and devotion in the practitioner.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects kalpa (ritual procedure) principles: purification of the altar/space, use of kuśa as a sacred ritual implement, and the formal sequence of honoring officiants/ṛṣis before or alongside the main worship.