Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 27

Devapūjā-krama: Ārghya-saṃskāra, Maṇḍala–Nyāsa, Mudrā-pradarśana, Āvaraṇa-arcana, Homa, Japa, and Kṣamāpaṇa

Devanagari script

अर्ध्यं पुष्पाक्षतयवैः कुशाग्रतिलसर्षपैः । गंधदूर्वादलैः प्रोक्तं ततश्चाचमनीयकम् ॥ २७ ॥

Transliteration

ardhyaṃ puṣpākṣatayavaiḥ kuśāgratilasarṣapaiḥ | gaṃdhadūrvādalaiḥ proktaṃ tataścācamanīyakam || 27 ||

Translation

Arghya (die ehrerbietige Wassergabe) wird vorgeschrieben mit Blumen, akṣata (ungebrochenem Reis), Gerste, den Spitzen des kuśa-Grases, Sesam und Senf, dazu Duftstoffe und Halme des dūrvā-Grases; danach soll ācamana (das reinigende Schlucken von Wasser) vollzogen werden.

Word by Word

• अर्घ्यम्: arghya offering
• अर्घ्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्घ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; ‘अर्घ्य’ = पूजोपहारविशेषः (honor-offering)

• पुष्प: flowers
• पुष्प: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग (compound member)

• अक्षत: unbroken rice grains
• अक्षत: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग

• यवैः: with barley grains
• यवैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case/करण), बहुवचन

• कुशाग्र: tips of kuśa grass
• कुशाग्र: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुश + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कुशस्य अग्रं) समासाङ्ग

• तिल: sesame
• तिल: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग

• सर्षपैः: with mustard seeds
• सर्षपैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्षप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case/करण), बहुवचन

• गन्ध: fragrance/perfume
• गन्ध: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग

• दूर्वा: dūrvā grass
• दूर्वा: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: दूर्वा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग

• दलैः: with leaves
• दलैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case/करण), बहुवचन

• प्रोक्तम्: is stated
• प्रोक्तम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु) → प्रोक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘(इदं) प्रोक्तम्’ = ‘is said/declared’

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• च: and
• च: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• आचमनीयकम्: water for ācamana
• आचमनीयकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचमनीयक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; आचमनार्थं जलम् (water for sipping)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within a ritual/technical exposition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that devotion is supported by ritual purity and respectful offerings—arghya prepared with sanctifying substances, followed by ācamana to maintain inner and outer cleanliness.

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

It presents bhakti as disciplined worship (pūjā-vidhi): offering arghya with traditional auspicious items and then performing ācamana, showing reverence through correct, mindful practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual procedure and purity rules—selection of prescribed materials (kuśa, tila, sarṣapa, akṣata) and the sequencing of acts (arghya followed by ācamana), reflecting applied kalpa-style liturgical knowledge.