Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 69

Dharmopadeśa-Śānti: Rules of Impurity, Expiations, and Ancestor Rites

Devanagari script

कुशैस्तीर्थनदीतौयैः सर्वद्रव्यं पृथक् पृथक् । आहृत्य प्रणवेनैव उत्थाप्य प्रणवेन च ॥ ६९ ॥

Transliteration

kuśaistīrthanadītauyaiḥ sarvadravyaṃ pṛthak pṛthak | āhṛtya praṇavenaiva utthāpya praṇavena ca || 69 ||

Translation

Using kuśa grass and water from sacred fords (tīrthas) and rivers, bring each ritual item separately. Then, with the Praṇava (Oṁ) alone, lift up and consecrate the entire set, and likewise raise it again with the Praṇava.

Word by Word

• कुशैः: with kuśa grass (blades)
• कुशैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• तीर्थनदीतौयैः: with water of a sacred river
• तीर्थनदीतौयैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + नदी (प्रातिपदिक) + तोय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार/निर्देशार्थ तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative): ‘तीर्थनद्याः तोयैः’ (water of a sacred river); नपुंसकलिङ्ग ‘तोय’ प्रधान, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• सर्वद्रव्यम्: all materials/substances
• सर्वद्रव्यम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + द्रव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (descriptive): ‘सर्वं द्रव्यम्’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• पृथक्: separately
• पृथक्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• पृथक्: each separately
• पृथक्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), पुनरुक्ति (repetition for emphasis)

• आहृत्य: having brought
• आहृत्य: पूर्वकाल (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ-हृ (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययीभावरूप कृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), अर्थः—‘आनीय/bringing’

• प्रणवेन: with the praṇava (Om)
• प्रणवेन: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: अवधारण (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारण-अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• उत्थाप्य: having raised/lifted
• उत्थाप्य: पूर्वकाल (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उत्-स्था (धातु) + णिच् + ल्यप् (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: णिजन्त (causative) + ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund): ‘उत्थापयित्वा/raising, lifting up’

• प्रणवेन: with the praṇava (Om)
• प्रणवेन: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Pranava (Om)
• Kusha

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that ritual purity and empowerment are ultimately secured through the Praṇava (Oṁ), making the mantra the central sanctifying force behind the external materials.

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

By centering the rite on Oṁ—commonly used in Vaiṣṇava worship as a sacred invocation—it shows that devotion is expressed through mantra-filled action, where remembrance of the Divine sanctifies the offering.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure) through the handling of dravya and consecration steps, and Śikṣā/Mantra-prayoga through precise use of the Praṇava during ritual actions.