Shloka 40

Description of the Rules for Charitable Gifts and Related Rites

Gaṅgā-māhātmya

Devanagari script

तथा सुगंधैः कुसुमैः कुंकुमागरुमंदनैः । तुलसीबिल्वपत्राद्यैर्मातुलुंगफलादिभिः ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

tathā sugaṃdhaiḥ kusumaiḥ kuṃkumāgarumaṃdanaiḥ | tulasībilvapatrādyairmātuluṃgaphalādibhiḥ || 40 ||

Translation

Likewise, (one should worship) with fragrant flowers, with kuṅkuma (saffron), with agaru and sandal paste, with tulasī and bilva leaves and the like, and with mātuluṅga (citron) fruits and other offerings.

Word by Word

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (likewise)

• सुगन्धैः: with perfumes
• सुगन्धैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुगन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; करण (with fragrances/perfumes)

• कुसुमैः: with flowers
• कुसुमैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुसुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; करण (with flowers)

• कुङ्कुम-अगरु-मन्दनैः: with saffron, aloe-wood, and ornaments
• कुङ्कुम-अगरु-मन्दनैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुङ्कुम (प्रातिपदिक) + अगरु (प्रातिपदिक) + मन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (kuṅkumaṃ ca agaru ca mandanaṃ ca)

• तुलसी-बिल्व-पत्र-आद्यैः: with tulasī and bilva leaves etc.
• तुलसी-बिल्व-पत्र-आद्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुलसी (प्रातिपदिक) + बिल्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समाहार/निर्देशार्थक तत्पुरुष (tulasībilvapatrāṇi ādayo yeṣāṃ taiḥ: with tulasī leaves, bilva leaves, etc.)

• मातुलुङ्ग-फल-आदिभिः: with citrons and other fruits
• मातुलुङ्ग-फल-आदिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातुलुङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (mātuluṅgaphalāni ādayaḥ: citron-fruits etc.)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Tulasī
• Bilva
• Agaru
• Candana
• Kuṅkuma

FAQs

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

It teaches that devotion is expressed through respectful upacāras—pure, fragrant, sattvic offerings such as flowers, sacred leaves (tulasī, bilva), and fruits—making worship both reverent and spiritually elevating.

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

Bhakti is shown here as loving service (sevā) through tangible offerings in pūjā—using items traditionally dear to the deity—so that the worshipper’s senses and actions become aligned with devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects ritual application (kalpa-prayoga) in pūjā: selecting appropriate dravyas (materials) like candana, agaru, tulasī, bilva, and fruits as standard upacāras for orthodox worship.