Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 5

Pūrṇimā-vrata (Lakṣmī–Nārāyaṇa-vrata): Observance, Moon Arghya, and Annual Udyāpana

Devanagari script

शुक्लाम्बरधरः शुद्धो गृहमागगत्य वाग्यतः । प्रक्षाल्य पादावाचम्य स्मरत्रारायणं प्रभुम् ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

śuklāmbaradharaḥ śuddho gṛhamāgagatya vāgyataḥ | prakṣālya pādāvācamya smaratrārāyaṇaṃ prabhum || 5 ||

Translation

In reinen weißen Gewändern, geläutert und nach der Heimkehr mit gezügelter Rede, soll man die Füße waschen, Ācamana (reinigendes Wasserschlürfen) vollziehen und dann des Herrn Nārāyaṇa, des höchsten Gebieters, gedenken.

Word by Word

• śukla-ambara-dharaḥ: wearing white garments
• śukla-ambara-dharaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śukla (प्रातिपदिक) + ambara (प्रातिपदिक) + dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/1st), Ekavacana (Singular); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (कर्मधारय-प्रायः) ‘शुक्लं अम्बरं धारयति’

• śuddhaḥ: pure
• śuddhaḥ: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nom.), Ekavacana; विशेषणम्

• gṛham: to the house/home
• gṛham: Karma (कर्म/Object of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative/2nd), Ekavacana; गन्तव्य-देशः

• āgamatya: having come/arrived
• āgamatya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Preceding action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā√gam (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), ‘आगम्य/आगत्य’ अर्थे; क्रियाविशेषणम् (पूर्वक्रिया)

• vāk-yataḥ: restrained in speech
• vāk-yataḥ: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक) + yata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; समासः—तत्पुरुषः ‘वाचा यतः’ (speech-restrained)

• prakṣālya: having washed
• prakṣālya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra√kṣāl (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्); क्रियाविशेषणम् (पूर्वक्रिया)

• pādau: (his) two feet
• pādau: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (Acc.), Dvivacana (Dual)

• ācamya: having sipped (water) / performed ācamana
• ācamya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā√cam (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्); ‘आचमनं कृत्वा’

• smaret: should remember
• smaret: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √smṛ (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (Optative/विधिलिङ्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana; परस्मैपदम्

• nārāyaṇam: Nārāyaṇa
• nārāyaṇam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (Acc.), Ekavacana

• prabhum: the Lord
• prabhum: Karma (कर्म/Object; appositive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (Acc.), Ekavacana; nārāyaṇasya viśeṣaṇam (apposition)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It teaches that external cleanliness (white, clean clothing; washing the feet; ācamana) should culminate in inner purity—Vishnu-smaraṇa—making devotion the true completion of ritual.

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

Bhakti is presented as smaraṇa (remembrance) of Nārāyaṇa performed with a disciplined body and speech; the simple act of remembering the Lord after purification becomes a direct devotional practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights kalpa-style ritual procedure: śauca (cleanliness), pāda-prakṣālana (washing feet), and ācamana as preparatory acts before japa, pūjā, or scriptural recitation.