Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 148

Dharmānukathana

Narration of Dharma

Devanagari script

देवतामन्दिरे कुर्वन्नरः शङ्खं नृप । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो विष्णुना सह मोदते ॥ १४८ ॥

Transliteration

devatāmandire kurvannaraḥ śaṅkhaṃ nṛpa | sarvapāpavinirmukto viṣṇunā saha modate || 148 ||

Translation

Oh Rey, quien fabrica (o instala) una caracola sagrada (śaṅkha) en el templo de la Deidad queda libre de todo pecado y se regocija junto a Viṣṇu.

Word by Word

• देवतामन्दिरे: in the temple of the deity
• देवतामन्दिरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक) + मन्दिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; समासः—देवतायाः मन्दिरम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• कुर्वन्: doing/making
• कुर्वन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘doing/making’

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• शङ्खम्: a conch
• शङ्खम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• नृप: O king
• नृप: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• सर्व-पाप-विनिर्मुक्तः: freed from all sins
• सर्व-पाप-विनिर्मुक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + विनिर्मुक्त (कृदन्त; वि+निर्+√मुच् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त), विशेषण; समासः—सर्वेभ्यः पापेभ्यः विनिर्मुक्तः (पञ्चमी-तत्पुरुष)

• विष्णुना: with Vishnu
• विष्णुना: Sahakari (सहकारी/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahakari (सहकारी/सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपसर्गसदृशं सहार्थकं निपात/पूर्वपद-योग्य (particle meaning ‘together with’)

• मोदते: he rejoices
• मोदते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √मुद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Narada (instructional narration to a king as addressee, within the Narada Purana dialogue framework)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

Secondary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It teaches that temple-service connected to Vishnu—here, making or dedicating a śaṅkha—functions as a powerful act of merit that destroys pāpa and leads to proximity with Vishnu.

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

Bhakti is shown as tangible seva: offering sacred objects used in Vishnu-upacāra. The fruit is not merely worldly merit but joyful communion with Vishnu (viṣṇunā saha modate).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Primarily kalpa/ritual-practice: the verse highlights temple-based upacāra (worship implements like the śaṅkha) and the doctrine of pāpa-kṣaya through prescribed devotional acts.