Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 54

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

Devanagari script

पूजयित्वा जयां विप्र यथाविधि समाहितः । उपचारैः षोडशभिस्ततः शुचिरलंकृतः ॥ ५४ ॥

Transliteration

pūjayitvā jayāṃ vipra yathāvidhi samāhitaḥ | upacāraiḥ ṣoḍaśabhistataḥ śuciralaṃkṛtaḥ || 54 ||

Translation

O Brāhmaṇa, nachdem man Jayā vorschriftsgemäß und mit gesammeltem Geist verehrt hat, soll man dann—gereinigt und wohlgeschmückt—die sechzehn rituellen Dienste (ṣoḍaśopacāra) darbringen.

Word by Word

• पूजयित्वा: having worshipped
• पूजयित्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु) → पूजयित्वा (क्त्वान्त, अव्ययभाव)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययम् (gerund); पूर्वकाले कृत्यं: ‘having worshipped’

• जयाम्: Jayā (the देवी)
• जयाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (कर्म), एकवचनम्; Accusative singular

• विप्र: O brāhmaṇa
• विप्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; Vocative singular

• यथा-विधि: according to the prescribed procedure
• यथा-विधि: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; अव्ययम् (adverbial): ‘according to rule’

• समाहितः: being composed/attentive
• समाहितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-आ-धा (धातु) → समाहित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः; पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; past participle used adjectivally: ‘composed/collected’

• उपचारैः: with offerings/services
• उपचारैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (करण), बहुवचनम्; Instrumental plural

• षोडशभिः: with sixteen
• षोडशभिः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षोडश (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; numeral adjective agreeing with उपचारैः

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb): ‘then/thereafter’

• शुचिः: pure
• शुचिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; adjective to implied performer

• अलंकृतः: adorned
• अलंकृतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अलम्-कृ (धातु) → अलंकृत (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः; पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘adorned’

Speaker

Narada (instructional narration within the Purva Bhaga; addressed to a vipra)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Jayā-vrata (context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Jayā

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that worship becomes spiritually effective when performed with inner composure (samāhita) and outer purity (śuci), following vidhi and completing the full set of devotional services (ṣoḍaśopacāra).

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

Bhakti here is expressed as disciplined reverence—offering attentive services to the deity (Jayā) with a focused mind, showing that devotion is both heartfelt and methodical in Purāṇic practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied through “yathāvidhi” and the structured ṣoḍaśopacāra framework, underscoring correct sequencing, purity rules, and formal offerings in worship.