Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 24

Gṛhastha-praveśa: Vivāha-bheda, Ācāra-śauca, Śrāddha-kāla, and Vaiṣṇava-lakṣaṇa

Devanagari script

पूज्यं देवालयं चैव नापसव्यं व्रजेद्दिजः । देवार्चाचमनस्नानव्रतश्राद्धक्रियादिषु ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

pūjyaṃ devālayaṃ caiva nāpasavyaṃ vrajeddijaḥ | devārcācamanasnānavrataśrāddhakriyādiṣu || 24 ||

Translation

A dvija (twice-born) should not circumambulate a venerable person or a temple in the inauspicious leftward (apāsavya) manner. This rule applies during deity-worship, ācamana (ritual sipping for purification), bathing, the observance of vows (vrata), śrāddha rites, and related ritual acts.

Word by Word

• pūjyam: (as) to-be-revered / venerable
• pūjyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūjya (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √pūj पूज्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; क्तव्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive) used adjectivally

• devālayam: temple (abode of the gods)
• devālayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva + ālaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (देवानाम् आलयः)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-निपात (negation)

• apasavyam: counterclockwise / with leftward turn
• apasavyam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: apasavya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण; ‘अपसव्य’ = वामावर्तेन/प्रदक्षिणविपरीतम् (adverbial usage)

• vrajet: should go
• vrajet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vraj (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• dvijaḥ: a twice-born (Brahmin)
• dvijaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• deva-arcā: worship of the gods
• deva-arcā: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva + arcā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन-प्रातिपदिक; समासपूर्वपद; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (देवानाम् अर्चा)

• camana: ācamanam (ritual sipping)
• camana: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: camana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (in compound); आचमन-क्रिया (sipping water for purification)

• snāna: bathing
• snāna: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: snāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (in compound)

• vrata: vow/observance
• vrata: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (in compound)

• śrāddha: śrāddha rite
• śrāddha: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrāddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (in compound)

• kriyā: ritual act
• kriyā: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kriyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (in compound)

• ādiṣu: in (these) and the like
• ādiṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), बहुवचन; ‘आदि’ = etc., in locative plural with -षु

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within the Purva Bhaga teaching dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Deva (the deities)
• Devālaya (temple)
• Pitṛs (implied via śrāddha)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes āchāra (right conduct) in sacred settings: moving in the auspicious manner around the worthy and around temples preserves ritual purity and reverence during dharmic acts.

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

Bhakti is not only inner feeling but also respectful bodily conduct in worship; correct temple etiquette and disciplined ritual behavior support focused devotion during deva-arcā and vrata.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects kalpa-style ritual procedure (a Vedāṅga domain): rules for proper performance and auspicious directionality in ceremonies like ācamana, snāna, and śrāddha.