Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 35

Śrāddha-prayoga: Niyama, Brāhmaṇa-parīkṣā, Kutapa-kāla, Tithi-nyāya, and Vaiṣṇava-phala

Devanagari script

प्रक्षाल्य विप्रपादांश्च ह्याचांनानुपवेश्य च । यथावदर्चनं कुर्यात्स्मरन्नारायणं प्रभुम् ॥ ३५ ॥

Transliteration

prakṣālya viprapādāṃśca hyācāṃnānupaveśya ca | yathāvadarcanaṃ kuryātsmarannārāyaṇaṃ prabhum || 35 ||

Translation

Nachdem man die Füße der Brāhmaṇas gewaschen und sie, nach Darreichung von Ācamana (Schlückwasser), gesetzt hat, soll man die Verehrung ordnungsgemäß vollziehen, indem man an Nārāyaṇa, den höchsten Herrn, denkt.

Word by Word

• प्रक्षाल्य: having washed
• प्रक्षाल्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्र + क्षल् (धातु) + ल्यप् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund): ‘having washed’

• विप्र-पादान्: the feet of the brāhmaṇas
• विप्र-पादान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र + पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (विप्रस्य पादाः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/हेतौ-अव्यय (particle: indeed/for)

• आचमनम्: sipping (ritual ācamana)
• आचमनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आ + चम (धातु) + ल्युट् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (ल्युट्-प्रत्यय, action noun), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अनुपवेश्य: having seated (them)
• अनुपवेश्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनु + उप + विश् (धातु) + ल्यप् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त-अव्यय (absolutive): ‘having seated (them) properly/nearby’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• यथावत्: properly
• यथावत्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb: properly, according to rule)

• अर्चनम्: worship
• अर्चनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कुर्यात्: should do/perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• स्मरन्: remembering
• स्मरन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + शतृ (प्रत्यय)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ, present active participle), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोग

• नारायणम्: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रभुम्: the Lord
• प्रभुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नारायणस्य विशेषणरूपेण

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narayaṇa
• Vishnu
• Vipra (Brahmana)

FAQs

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

It links social-sacred duty (honoring brāhmaṇas through pāda-prakṣālana and ācamana) with inner devotion, teaching that proper ritual becomes spiritually fruitful when done in remembrance of Nārāyaṇa.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as smaraṇa (constant remembrance) during arcana; external correctness (yathāvat) is completed by inward focus on the Lord, Nārāyaṇa.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure) through instructions on ācamana, respectful seating, and rule-based worship (yathāvat-arcana) as part of correct ceremonial practice.