Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 40

The Exposition of the Ṣaṣṭhī-vrata Observed Through the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

अत्रैव वह्निपूजोक्तां तां च सम्पक्समाचरेत् । विविधद्रव्यहोमैश्च वह्निपूजापुरः सरम् ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

atraiva vahnipūjoktāṃ tāṃ ca sampaksamācaret | vividhadravyahomaiśca vahnipūjāpuraḥ saram || 40 ||

Translation

Eben hier soll man ordnungsgemäß das Verfahren ausführen, das als Verehrung Agnis gelehrt wurde; und durch Homa-Opfer mit Gaben verschiedenster Art soll man den vollständigen Ablauf des Feuerkultes von Anfang bis Ende vollziehen.

Word by Word

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (just/indeed)

• वह्नि-पूज-उक्ताम्: said/mentioned in the fire-worship (rite)
• वह्नि-पूज-उक्ताम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + पूजा (प्रातिपदिक) + उक्त (कृदन्त; वच् धातोः क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (वह्निपूजायाम् उक्ता) विशेषणं 'ताम्'

• ताम्: that (rite/procedure)
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; pronoun

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सम्यक्: properly
• सम्यक्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: रीतिवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: properly)

• समाचरेत्: should perform
• समाचरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• विविध-द्रव्य-होमैः: with oblations using various materials
• विविध-द्रव्य-होमैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक) + द्रव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + होम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (विविधैः द्रव्यैः होमाः)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• वह्नि-पूजा-पुरःसरम्: with fire-worship as the preliminary
• वह्नि-पूजा-पुरःसरम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + पूजा (प्रातिपदिक) + पुरःसर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/क्रियाविशेषणवत्), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (वह्निपूजा पुरःसरा यस्य) adverbial use: 'with fire-worship in front/preceding'

Speaker

Narada (in instructional narration within the Purva Bhaga, Fourth Pada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Agni (Vahni)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes disciplined, correct execution of Agni-worship—treating the ritual sequence and offerings as a sacred, ordered practice rather than a casual act—thereby aligning the performer with dharmic procedure (vidhi).

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

Bhakti here is expressed as reverent service through prescribed worship: honoring the sacred fire with proper steps and heartfelt care, using offerings as an act of devotion and surrender to the divine order upheld by ritual.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights Kalpa (ritual procedure) through the insistence on samyak performance and puraḥsaram (correct order), and implies knowledge of homa dravyas (offerings) and their proper use in Vedic rites.