Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 71

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

Devanagari script

वनस्पतिरसं दिव्यं गंधाढ्यं सुमनोहरम् । आघ्रेयं देवदेवेश धूपं भक्त्या गृहाम मे ॥ ७१ ॥

Transliteration

vanaspatirasaṃ divyaṃ gaṃdhāḍhyaṃ sumanoharam | āghreyaṃ devadeveśa dhūpaṃ bhaktyā gṛhāma me || 71 ||

Translation

O Lord of lords, accept from me with devotion this divine incense—drawn from the essence of forest plants—rich in fragrance and exceedingly pleasing to the mind, fit to be inhaled as an offering.

Word by Word

• वनस्पति-रसम्: sap/essence of plants
• वनस्पति-रसम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वनस्पति (प्रातिपदिक) + रस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (vanaspateḥ rasaḥ)

• दिव्यम्: divine
• दिव्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); (vanaspatirasa) विशेषण

• गन्ध-आढ्यम्: rich in fragrance
• गन्ध-आढ्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष (gandhena āḍhyam = rich in fragrance)

• सु-मनोहरम्: very delightful
• सु-मनोहरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + मनोहर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय (su-mano-hara = very pleasing)

• आघ्रेयम्: to be smelled/inhaled (fragrant)
• आघ्रेयम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आघ्रेय (प्रातिपदिक; from √घ्रा with ā-; ‘fit to be smelled’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); (dhūpa) विशेषण

• देव-देवेश: O Lord of gods
• देव-देवेश: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + देवेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (devānāṃ deveśa)

• धूपम्: incense
• धूपम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: Karana (करण/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• गृहाम: we accept/take
• गृहाम: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• मे: of me / my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th) एकवचन (Singular); enclitic form

Speaker

Devotee/ritual offerer addressing the Deity (within a puja/stotra-style ritual context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Devadevesha (Supreme Lord)

FAQs

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

It presents dhūpa (incense) as a devotional upacāra: a sensory offering where fragrance symbolizes purity and heartfelt reverence, asking the Lord to “accept” the devotee’s worship.

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

Bhakti is emphasized through the attitude of offering—“bhaktyā gṛhāṇa”—showing that the value of the ritual act lies in loving surrender and personal dedication to the Lord.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual praxis is highlighted via precise puja terminology (dhūpa, upacāra, āghreya), reflecting technical liturgical usage aligned with śrauta/smārta-style worship language rather than astrology or grammar.