Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 29

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

Devanagari script

एकस्मिन्नथवा पात्रे पाद्यादीनि प्रकल्पयेत् । शंकरार्कार्चने शंखमयेनैव प्रशस्यते ॥ २९ ॥

Transliteration

ekasminnathavā pātre pādyādīni prakalpayet | śaṃkarārkārcane śaṃkhamayenaiva praśasyate || 29 ||

Translation

The offerings beginning with pādya (water for washing the feet) and the rest may be arranged either in a single vessel or in separate vessels; but for the worship of Śaṅkara (Śiva) and Arka (the Sun), a conch-shell vessel is especially commended.

Word by Word

• एकस्मिन्: in one (vessel)
• एकस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case/अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘एकस्मिन् (पात्रे)’

• अथवा: or
• अथवा: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथवा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• पात्रे: in a vessel
• पात्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• पाद्यादीनि: pādya and other (offerings)
• पाद्यादीनि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद्य + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case/कर्म), बहुवचन; ‘पाद्यं आदिः येषाम्’ इति (pādya etc.)

• प्रकल्पयेत्: should arrange/prepare
• प्रकल्पयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + कल्प् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• शंकर: Śaṅkara (Śiva)
• शंकर: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग

• अर्क: Arka (Sun)
• अर्क: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासाङ्ग

• अर्चने: in worship
• अर्चने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case/अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘पूजायाम्’

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

• मयेन: made of
• मयेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case/करण), एकवचन; ‘-मय’ = ‘made of’

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• प्रशस्यते: is praised/commended
• प्रशस्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + शंस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः (is praised/commended)

Speaker

Narada (teaching ritual procedure, in the Narada Purana’s technical/vidhi section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Shankara (Shiva)
• Arka (Surya)
• Shankha (conch)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes purity and correctness in arcanā (ritual worship): even the choice and arrangement of vessels for upacāras is part of dharmic precision, and certain deities have specially praised implements.

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

Bhakti is expressed through careful, respectful service (sevā) in worship—offering pādya and related upacāras properly and using recommended materials as an act of reverence.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual-technical knowledge (kalpa/vidhi orientation) is highlighted: how to व्यवस्थित (systematically) prepare upacāras and the prescribed suitability of specific ritual vessels (śaṅkha-pātra) for particular deities.