Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 31

The Second Twelve-Month Vrata: Dvitīyā Observances and Their Fruits

Devanagari script

नैवेद्यैर्विविधैर्धूपैर्दीपर्नीराजनादिभिः । प्रसाद्य प्रणमेच्चैव साष्टांगं पतितो भुवि ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

naivedyairvividhairdhūpairdīparnīrājanādibhiḥ | prasādya praṇameccaiva sāṣṭāṃgaṃ patito bhuvi || 31 ||

Translation

Après avoir apaisé (le Seigneur) par diverses offrandes de nourriture (naivedya), l’encens, les lampes, l’ārati et autres rites, qu’on se prosterne ensuite—tombant à terre en prosternation totale des huit membres (sāṣṭāṅga).

Word by Word

• नैवेद्यैः: with food-offerings (naivedya)
• नैवेद्यैः: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैवेद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• विविधैः: various
• विविधैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणं ‘नैवेद्यैः/धूपैः’ इत्यादिषु

• धूपैः: with incense
• धूपैः: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• दीप: lamp
• दीप: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, (समासाङ्ग/compound member)

• नीराजन: waving of lights (ārati)
• नीराजन: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नीराजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, (समासाङ्ग/compound member)

• आदिभिः: and other such (items)
• आदिभिः: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; ‘इत्यादि’ अर्थे (and the like)

• प्रसाद्य: having propitiated
• प्रसाद्य: Kriyā (क्रिया/Non-finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-सद् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभावकृदन्त; अर्थः—प्रसाद्य (having pleased/propitiated)

• प्रणमेत्: should bow
• प्रणमेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-नम् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis/indeed)

• साष्टाङ्गम्: with eight-limbed prostration
• साष्टाङ्गम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स-अष्ट-अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक; स + अष्ट + अङ्ग)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) ‘अष्टाङ्गेन सह’ = with eight limbs (prostration)

• पतितः: having fallen/prostrated
• पतितः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—participial predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थः—पतित (fallen/prostrated)

• भुवि: on the ground
• भुवि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक: भुव्/भूमि)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (instructional narration within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frame)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It teaches that worship is completed not only by offerings (naivedya, dhūpa, dīpa, nīrājana) but by humility—sealing the act of devotion through aṣṭāṅga prostration on the earth.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as loving service (upacāra) followed by surrender (praṇāma): offerings please the deity, and full prostration embodies self-effacement and reverence.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects kalpa/prayoga-style ritual procedure: the ordered pūjā upacāras (naivedya, dhūpa, dīpa, nīrājana) and the prescribed posture/gesture (aṣṭāṅga-praṇāma) as part of correct observance.