Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 3

The Account of the Ekādaśī Vow Observed Throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

उपचारैर्बहुविधैर्जपैर्होमैः प्रदक्षिणैः । स्तोत्रपाठैर्बहुविधैर्गीतवाद्यैर्मनोहरैः ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

upacārairbahuvidhairjapairhomaiḥ pradakṣiṇaiḥ | stotrapāṭhairbahuvidhairgītavādyairmanoharaiḥ || 3 ||

Translation

Mit vielfältigen rituellen Diensten, mit Mantra-Wiederholung (japa), mit Feueropfern (homa), mit Umwandlungen (pradakṣiṇā), mit verschiedenartigen Hymnenrezitationen sowie mit anmutigem Gesang und Instrumentalmusik—(so wird der Herr verehrt).

Word by Word

• उपचारैः: with services/offerings
• उपचारैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन

• बहुविधैः: of many kinds
• बहुविधैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समास: कर्मधारय (बहवः विधाः येषां ते)

• जपैः: with recitations (japa)
• जपैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• होमैः: with fire-offerings (homa)
• होमैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• प्रदक्षिणैः: with circumambulations
• प्रदक्षिणैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रदक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• स्तोत्रपाठैः: with recitations of hymns
• स्तोत्रपाठैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तोत्र + पाठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (स्तोत्रस्य पाठः)

• बहुविधैः: of many kinds
• बहुविधैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समास: कर्मधारय

• गीतवाद्यैः: with songs and instruments
• गीतवाद्यैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गीत + वाद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहार-द्वन्द्व), तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समास: द्वन्द्व (गीतं च वाद्यं च)

• मनोहरैः: delightful, charming
• मनोहरैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनोहर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (सन्दर्भे गीतवाद्यैः इति नपुंसकबहुवचनानुगुणम्), तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a catalog-like description of devotional worship)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It presents a complete devotional framework—outer ritual (upacāra, homa, pradakṣiṇā) united with inner devotion expressed through mantra (japa) and praise (stotra), culminating in joyful worship through music.

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

Bhakti is shown as multi-limbed: serving the deity, repeating divine names/mantras, offering oblations, circumambulating in reverence, and celebrating the Lord through hymn-recitation and devotional music.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual procedure is implied (kalpa-style practice) through homa and upacāra, and correct mantra use through japa—requiring disciplined recitation and liturgical order in worship.