Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 74

Mantra-Māhātmya and Sādhana of Kārtavīryārjuna

Nyāsa, Yantra, Homa, and Dīpa-Vrata

Devanagari script

पंचसप्ततिसंख्ये तु पात्रं षष्टिपलं स्मृतम् । त्रिसाहस्री घृतपले शर्करापलभाजनम् ॥ ७४ ॥

Transliteration

paṃcasaptatisaṃkhye tu pātraṃ ṣaṣṭipalaṃ smṛtam | trisāhasrī ghṛtapale śarkarāpalabhājanam || 74 ||

Translation

For the count of seventy-five, the vessel (pātra) is said to be sixty palas. And for ghee measuring three thousand palas, the container is reckoned by the pala-measure of sugar—i.e., the standard sugar-measure vessel is prescribed.

Word by Word

• paṃca-saptati-saṃkhye: in the number (measure) of seventy-five
• paṃca-saptati-saṃkhye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paṃca (प्रातिपदिक) + saptati (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃkhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: 'in the count of seventy-five'

• tu: indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• pātram: vessel
• pātram: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• ṣaṣṭi-palam: (measuring) sixty palas
• ṣaṣṭi-palam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṣaṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक) + pala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'of sixty palas'

• smṛtam: is stated
• smṛtam: Kriyā (क्रिया/predication)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smṛ (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative, Singular; predicative

• tri-sāhasrī: three-thousand (measure)
• tri-sāhasrī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक) + sāhasrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); द्विगु: 'three-thousand (in number)'

• ghṛta-pale: in (a measure of) ghee-palas
• ghṛta-pale: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ghṛta (प्रातिपदिक) + pala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'in palas of ghee'

• śarkarā-pala-bhājanam: a vessel for (measuring) sugar in palas
• śarkarā-pala-bhājanam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śarkarā (प्रातिपदिक) + pala (प्रातिपदिक) + bhājana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: 'vessel (bhājana) of palas of sugar'

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada on technical ritual/measurement standards)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that dharma in ritual practice includes precision—correct measures, vessels, and quantities—so an offering is performed in an orderly, śāstra-grounded way rather than by guesswork.

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

While the verse is technical, it supports bhakti indirectly: devotion expressed through yajña/dāna becomes disciplined and reliable when offerings are made according to prescribed standards.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa-style procedural knowledge: standardization of weights (pala) and the corresponding vessel capacities for substances like ghee (ghṛta) and sugar (śarkarā) used in ritual contexts.