Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 20

द्वादशमासेषु अष्टमी-व्रत-कथनम्

Account of the Aṣṭamī Vow Across the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

होमांते विधिना सम्यगाचार्य्यं पूजयेत्सुधीः । सौवर्णे ताम्रपात्रे वा मृन्मये वेणुपात्रके ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

homāṃte vidhinā samyagācāryyaṃ pūjayetsudhīḥ | sauvarṇe tāmrapātre vā mṛnmaye veṇupātrake || 20 ||

Translation

Am Ende des Homa soll der Weise den Ācārya (geistlichen Lehrer) nach Vorschrift in rechter Weise ehren—(indem er die Gabe) in einem goldenen Gefäß, oder in einem kupfernen, oder in einem irdenen Topf, oder in einem Bambusbehälter darbringt.

Word by Word

• होम-अन्ते: at the end of the homa
• होम-अन्ते: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• विधिना: according to rule; by the proper procedure
• विधिना: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• सम्यक्: properly
• सम्यक्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण — ‘properly, correctly’

• आचार्यम्: the teacher/priest
• आचार्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• पूजयेत्: should worship/honour
• पूजयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• सु-धीः: the wise person
• सु-धीः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + धी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन; ‘good/intelligent-minded person’

• सौवर्णे: in a golden (vessel)
• सौवर्णे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सौवर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; विशेषण of ‘पात्रे’ (understood)

• ताम्र-पात्रे: in a copper vessel
• ताम्र-पात्रे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताम्र (प्रातिपदिक) + पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (disjunctive particle) — ‘or’

• मृन्-मये: in an earthen (vessel)
• मृन्-मये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृद्/मृन् (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; विशेषण of ‘पात्रे’ (understood)

• वेणु-पात्रके: in a bamboo vessel
• वेणु-पात्रके: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेणु (प्रातिपदिक) + पात्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; पात्रक = small vessel

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Acharya

FAQs

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

It teaches that a rite is completed not only by offerings into fire but by honoring the living conduit of Vedic knowledge—the ācārya—through proper guru-pūjā and dakṣiṇā.

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

By emphasizing reverence and service to the guru after worship, it aligns ritual action with humility and devotion, treating the teacher as worthy of honor at the culmination of sacred practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects kalpa/ritual procedure: the prescribed completion step of a homa includes honoring the officiating ācārya with a properly presented offering, even specifying acceptable types of vessels.