Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

संक्षाल्यास्रेण प्रणवं तदुपर्यष्टधा जपेत् । सामान्यार्घमिदं प्रोक्तं सर्वसिद्धिकरं नृणाम् ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

saṃkṣālyāsreṇa praṇavaṃ taduparyaṣṭadhā japet | sāmānyārghamidaṃ proktaṃ sarvasiddhikaraṃ nṛṇām || 5 ||

Translation

Nachdem man mit Wasser gespült hat, soll man darüber den Praṇava (Oṃ) achtmal rezitieren. Dies wird als das allgemeine Arghya dargelegt, das den Menschen jede Vollendung (Siddhi) verleiht.

Word by Word

• संक्षाल्य: having washed
• संक्षाल्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+क्षल् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); ‘having washed’

• अस्रेण: with a stream (of water)
• अस्रेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; ‘with a stream’ (reading uncertain: अस्रेण/स्रेण)

• प्रणवम्: the praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्रणवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; demonstrative pronoun

• उपरि: above/upon
• उपरि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उपरि (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb/Preposition (उपसर्गवत् अव्यय)

• अष्टधा: eightfold / eight times
• अष्टधा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अष्टधा (अव्यय)
• Form: Numeral adverb (प्रकारवाचक अव्यय)

• जपेत्: should recite
• जपेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; parasmaipada

• सामान्य-अर्घम्: the general argha-offering
• सामान्य-अर्घम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सामान्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्घ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; कर्मधारय: ‘सामान्यः अर्घः’ → ‘general offering’

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• प्रोक्तम्: is declared
• प्रोक्तम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Neuter, Nominative Singular; ‘said/declared’

• सर्व-सिद्धि-करम्: bringing all attainments
• सर्व-सिद्धि-करम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: सर्वासां सिद्धीनां करम्; agrees with इदम्

• नृणाम्: of men
• नृणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Praṇava (Oṃ)

FAQs

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

It presents a simple, universal rite: purify water and empower it through eight repetitions of Oṃ, making the arghya a spiritually charged offering that supports overall success (siddhi) in practice.

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

By centering the act on the Praṇava, it turns a routine offering into remembrance of the Supreme through sacred sound—an accessible devotional discipline integrated into ritual.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Mantra-prayoga and ritual procedure: the verse specifies a counted japa (aṣṭadhā) and a purification step (rinsing with water), showing technical correctness in performance.