Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 66

Dharmopadeśa-Śānti: Rules of Impurity, Expiations, and Ancestor Rites

Devanagari script

आरामश्च विशेषेण देवद्रोण्यस्तथैव च । वापीकूपतडागानि देवतायतनानि च ॥ ६६ ॥

Transliteration

ārāmaśca viśeṣeṇa devadroṇyastathaiva ca | vāpīkūpataḍāgāni devatāyatanāni ca || 66 ||

Translation

Und besonders verdienstvoll sind das Anlegen von Hainen und Gärten sowie heilige Wassertröge. Ebenso das Errichten von Stufenbrunnen, Brunnen und Teichen und der Bau von Tempeln und Schreinen für die Gottheiten.

Word by Word

• आरामः: a garden/park
• आरामः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; item in list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आराम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular)

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

• विशेषेण: especially
• विशेषेण: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial/instrumental of manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन (Singular); क्रियाविशेषणार्थे (instrumental used adverbially)

• देवद्रोण्यः: divine troughs/reservoirs (for deities)
• देवद्रोण्यः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; item in list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + द्रोणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन (Plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (देवानां द्रोण्यः)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb: thus/likewise)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: निपात (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphatic particle)

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

• वापीकूपतडागानि: wells, ponds, and tanks
• वापीकूपतडागानि: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; item in list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वापी + कूप + तडाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन (Plural); इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (वाप्यः च कूपाः च तडागानि च)

• देवतायतनानि: temples/shrines of deities
• देवतायतनानि: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; item in list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता + आयतन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन (Plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (देवतायाः/देवतानां आयतनानि)

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

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Devatāḥ (the deities)

FAQs

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

It teaches that dharmic public works—especially creating water sources, gardens, and deity-temples—are powerful puṇya-karma because they sustain life, support pilgrims and worship, and uphold deva-sevā and loka-saṅgraha.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through service: establishing devatāyatanas (temples) and facilities like water and gardens that enable worship, pilgrimage, and daily devotion, turning societal care into an offering to the deities.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual-practice (kalpa-oriented dharma) is implied: the verse points to prescribed acts of dāna and pratiṣṭhā (religious establishment) such as dedicating water-resources and temples, which are standard topics in dharma and ritual manuals.