Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

ग्रामाद्बहिर्विनिर्गत्य धरोपस्थे समास्तितः । ध्वजं च पंचवर्णं तु वंशदंडाग्रसंस्थितम् ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

grāmādbahirvinirgatya dharopasthe samāstitaḥ | dhvajaṃ ca paṃcavarṇaṃ tu vaṃśadaṃḍāgrasaṃsthitam || 8 ||

Translation

Nachdem er das Dorf hinter sich gelassen hatte, setzte er sich auf die Erde; und dort errichtete er ein fünf­farbiges Banner, oben an einem Bambusstab befestigt.

Word by Word

• ग्रामात्: from the village
• ग्रामात्: अपादान (Apādāna/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन (Singular)

• बहिः: outside
• बहिः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहिस् (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Indeclinable), क्रियाविशेषण (Adverb)

• विनिर्गत्य: having gone out
• विनिर्गत्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-निर्-गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव (Indeclinable verbal), ‘having gone out’

• धर-उपस्थे: on the ground/earth’s surface
• धर-उपस्थे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर (प्रातिपदिक) + उपस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpurusha), ‘धरस्य उपस्थः’ (locative sense); पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• समास्तितः: seated/standing firmly
• समास्तितः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• ध्वजम्: a flag/banner
• ध्वजम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (Conjunction)

• पञ्च-वर्णम्: five-colored
• पञ्च-वर्णम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (Dvigu), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); ध्वजम् इति विशेषण (adjective of ‘dhvaja’)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधान/विरोधार्थक (particle: emphasis/contrast)

• वंश-दण्ड-अग्र-संस्थितम्: fixed at the tip of a bamboo staff
• वंश-दण्ड-अग्र-संस्थितम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वंश (प्रातिपदिक) + दण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्-स्था (धातु)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpurusha), अन्ते क्त-प्रत्ययान्त ‘संस्थित’ (PPP); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); ध्वजम् इति विशेषण (adjective of ‘dhvaja’)

Speaker

Narada (narrating within the Anukramanika-style account; dialogue framework traditionally with Sanatkumara brothers)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It depicts a formal ritual beginning: withdrawing from ordinary social space (outside the village), grounding oneself on the earth, and establishing a visible sacred marker (the pañcavarṇa-dhvaja) to consecrate the act as a vowed observance (vrata/upāsanā).

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

Bhakti here is expressed through disciplined outer conduct—creating a sanctified setting and symbol (dhvaja) that focuses the mind toward the deity and the vow, showing devotion as regulated practice rather than mere sentiment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It most directly reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure): specifying place (outside the village), posture/seat (on the ground), and an implement (flag on a bamboo staff) as part of the prescribed observance.