Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 3

The exposition of the Pañcamī vow to be observed in the twelve months

Devanagari script

श्रीपंचमीति चैषोक्ता तत्र कार्यं श्रियोऽर्चनम् । गंधाद्यैरुपचारैस्तु नैवेद्यैः पायसादिभिः ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

śrīpaṃcamīti caiṣoktā tatra kāryaṃ śriyo'rcanam | gaṃdhādyairupacāraistu naivedyaiḥ pāyasādibhiḥ || 3 ||

Translation

This observance is called “Śrīpañcamī.” On that occasion one should worship Śrī (Lakṣmī), offering fragrant substances and other ritual services, and presenting food-offerings such as pāyasa (sweet rice cooked in milk) and the like.

Word by Word

• श्रीपञ्चमी: (the day called) Śrīpañcamī
• श्रीपञ्चमी: Karta (कर्ता/उद्देश्य-नामनिर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीपञ्चमी (प्रातिपदिक) [श्री + पञ्चमी]
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; नाम (festival-name)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उद्धरण-चिह्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इति-शब्दः (quotative particle)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• एषा: this (she/this one)
• एषा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• उक्ता: is said/declared
• उक्ता: Karta (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘said/declared’

• तत्र: there/in that (observance)
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb)

• कार्यं: should be done
• कार्यं: Vidhi (विधि/आज्ञार्थ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त) / कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भाव्य/विधेयार्थक कृदन्त (gerundive/यत्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘to be done’

• श्रियोः: of Śrī (Lakṣmī)
• श्रियोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; (वैकल्पिकरूपेण ‘श्रिया:’ अर्थे)

• अर्चनम्: worship
• अर्चनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्च् (धातु) + ल्युट् (कृदन्त) / अर्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्रियानाम (verbal noun)

• गन्धाद्यैः: with perfumes and the like
• गन्धाद्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्धादि (प्रातिपदिक) [गन्ध + आदि]
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; ‘गन्ध-आदि’ = perfumes etc.

• उपचारैः: with offerings/services
• उपचारैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण/विरोध (particle)

• नैवेद्यैः: with food-offerings
• नैवेद्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैवेद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• पायसादिभिः: with rice-pudding and the like
• पायसादिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पायसादि (प्रातिपदिक) [पायस + आदि]
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; ‘pāyasa etc.’

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Śrīpañcamī

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

Secondary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Characters & Entities

• Sri (Lakshmi)

FAQs

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

It defines Śrīpañcamī as a vrata centered on honoring Śrī (Lakṣmī) through formal worship and offerings, emphasizing auspiciousness, prosperity, and devotional discipline.

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

Bhakti is expressed through arcanā—loving, structured worship—using upacāras (services) and naivedya (food offerings), showing devotion through mindful giving and reverence.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects kalpa/ritual practice: the use of upacāras and prescribed naivedya (e.g., pāyasa) as standard components of pūjā within vrata observance.