Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 57

Yajñamālī–Sumālī Upākhyāna: Merit-Transfer through Temple Plastering (Lepa) and the Redemption of a Sinner

Devanagari script

अवाप परमं स्थानं योगिनामपि दुर्लभम् । उपलेपनमाहात्म्यं कथितं ते मुनीश्वर ॥ ५६ ॥

Transliteration

avāpa paramaṃ sthānaṃ yogināmapi durlabham | upalepanamāhātmyaṃ kathitaṃ te munīśvara || 56 ||

Translation

Er erlangte die höchste Stätte, die selbst für vollendete Yogins schwer zu erreichen ist. So, o Herr unter den Weisen, ist dir die Größe des heiligen Aktes des Bestreichens und Reinigens dargelegt worden.

Word by Word

• अवाप: he attained
• अवाप: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-√आप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमा-पुरुष, एकवचन; ‘he obtained’

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; स्थानम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• स्थानम्: abode/state
• स्थानम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्म

• योगिनाम्: of yogins
• योगिनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध (whose)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) ‘even/also’

• दुर्लभम्: hard to obtain
• दुर्लभम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक: दुर् + लभ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; स्थानम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• उपलेपनमाहात्म्यम्: the greatness of (this) anointing/daubing (rite)
• उपलेपनमाहात्म्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Content)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपलेपन-माहात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक: उपलेपन + माहात्म्य)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विषय/प्रस्ताव (topic)

• कथितम्: has been narrated
• कथितम्: Karma (कर्म/Predicate content)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कथ् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्तान्तः ‘has been told’ (passive sense)

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive) एकवचन; ‘to you/for you’ अर्थे दत्तिवत् प्रयोगः (enclitic)

• मुनीश्वर: O lord of sages
• मुनीश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनीश्वर (प्रातिपदिक: मुनि + ईश्वर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन; संबोधन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (addressing Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Yogins

FAQs

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

It declares that the merit of upalepana (a sanctifying, purificatory rite) can lead to the supreme state—so exalted that even yogins find it hard to reach—thereby elevating ritual purity into a direct means toward liberation.

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

By praising a sacred service-act connected with worship and sanctification, the verse frames devotion as practical seva: humble ritual action offered in a spirit of reverence can culminate in the highest divine attainment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It most closely reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure): the verse emphasizes the efficacy of correct sanctifying practice (upalepana) as part of dharmic worship and purification.