Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 50

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

Devanagari script

तस्याः स्वर्णमयीं मूर्तिं शक्त्या निर्माय नारद । उपचारैः षोडशभिः पूजयेत्तां विधानतः ॥ ५० ॥

Transliteration

tasyāḥ svarṇamayīṃ mūrtiṃ śaktyā nirmāya nārada | upacāraiḥ ṣoḍaśabhiḥ pūjayettāṃ vidhānataḥ || 50 ||

Translation

O Nārada, nachdem man nach eigener Kraft ein goldenes Bildnis von Ihr gefertigt hat, soll man Sie vorschriftsgemäß mit den sechzehn rituellen Darbringungen (ṣoḍaśopacāra) verehren.

Word by Word

• tasyāḥ: of her
• tasyāḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Genitive (6th), Singular

• svarṇa-mayīm: made of gold
• svarṇa-mayīm: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svarṇa + maya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Accusative (2nd), Singular; tatpuruṣa ‘made of gold’ qualifying ‘mūrtim’

• mūrtim: image/idol
• mūrtim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• śaktyā: with (one’s) ability/as able
• śaktyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Instrumental (3rd), Singular; adverbial sense ‘according to one’s ability’

• nirmāya: having fashioned
• nirmāya: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir + mā (मा धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा with form -ya), ‘having made/constructed’

• nārada: O Nārada
• nārada: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārada (नारद प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• upacāraiḥ: with offerings/services
• upacāraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upacāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Instrumental (3rd), Plural

• ṣoḍaśabhiḥ: with sixteen
• ṣoḍaśabhiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṣoḍaśan (षोडशन् संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental (3rd), Plural; numeral adjective qualifying ‘upacāraiḥ’

• pūjayet: should worship
• pūjayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pūj (पूज् धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (optative), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Singular; parasmaipada

• tām: her/that (image)
• tām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• vidhānataḥ: according to the prescribed method
• vidhānataḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vidhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय) formed with -tas (तस्) suffix; adverb ‘according to rule/prescription’

Speaker

Sanatkumara

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Upāṅga-Lalitā Vrata (contextual continuation)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It teaches regulated devotion: worship should follow scriptural procedure (vidhi) while remaining compassionate and realistic—performed according to one’s means (śaktyā), without neglecting reverence.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through disciplined pūjā—honoring the deity with ṣoḍaśopacāra—showing that devotion is both heartfelt and structured through traditional offerings and service.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure): the instruction to worship 'vidhānataḥ' with 'upacāra' points to codified pūjā-vidhi and the standard sixteen-step offering system used in temple and household rites.