Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 15

The Exposition of the Saptamī Vow Observed Across Twelve Months

Saptamī-vrata-prakāśana

Devanagari script

वस्त्रयुग्मावृतं कृत्वा गंधधूपादिनार्चयेत् । नमस्ते पद्महस्ताय नमस्ते विश्वधारिणे ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

vastrayugmāvṛtaṃ kṛtvā gaṃdhadhūpādinārcayet | namaste padmahastāya namaste viśvadhāriṇe || 15 ||

Translation

Après avoir recouvert (l’icône sacrée) d’une paire de vêtements, qu’on L’adore avec parfums, encens et autres offrandes, en disant : «Hommage à Toi dont la main porte le lotus ; hommage à Toi, Soutien de l’univers.»

Word by Word

• vastra-yugma-āvṛtam: covered with a pair of cloths
• vastra-yugma-āvṛtam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vastra (प्रातिपदिक) + yugma (प्रातिपदिक) + āvṛta (प्रातिपदिक/√vṛ + ā + kta)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; kamalam-viśeṣaṇa (covered with a pair of cloths)

• kṛtvā: having done/made (it so)
• kṛtvā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वान्त), pūrvakāla-kriyā

• gandha-dhūpa-ādinā: with perfumes, incense, etc.
• gandha-dhūpa-ādinā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandha (प्रातिपदिक) + dhūpa (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (arcana-dravya understood), Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; karaṇa

• arcayet: should worship
• arcayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √arc (अर्च्)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (optative), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/सम्प्रदान-प्रवृत्त)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namaḥ (अव्यय/नमस्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya; salutation particle (नमः) governing dative

• te: to you
• te: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (त्वद्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Ekavacana; pronoun (युष्मद्)

• padma-hastāya: to (the one) with lotus in hand / lotus-handed
• padma-hastāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: padma (प्रातिपदिक) + hasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Caturthī-vibhakti (4th), Ekavacana; addressed as recipient of salutation

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namaḥ (अव्यय/नमस्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya; salutation particle

• te: to you
• te: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (त्वद्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dative (4th), Ekavacana; pronoun

• viśva-dhāriṇe: to the bearer of the universe
• viśva-dhāriṇe: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśva (प्रातिपदिक) + dhārin (प्रातिपदिक; √dhṛ धृ + in)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Caturthī-vibhakti (4th), Ekavacana; addressed as recipient

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Kamala-vrata (contextual continuation)

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 frames worship as reverent service (upacāra) to Vishnu—offering cloth, fragrance, and incense—while verbally acknowledging Him as Padmahasta (lotus-bearing) and Viśvadhārī (the universal sustainer).

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

Bhakti is expressed through both action and speech: respectful offerings (vastra, gandha, dhūpa) combined with namaskāra that praises Vishnu’s divine attributes, turning ritual into loving remembrance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects kalpa-style ritual procedure (proper sequence of pūjā upacāras) and correct mantra-usage in worship, emphasizing disciplined practice rather than speculative philosophy.