Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 21

The Account of the Ekādaśī Vow Observed Throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

पीतांबरधरां शुभ्रे पर्य्यंके स्वास्तृते द्विज । ततः पंचामृतैः स्नाप्य मन्त्रैः शुद्धजलेन च ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

pītāṃbaradharāṃ śubhre paryyaṃke svāstṛte dvija | tataḥ paṃcāmṛtaiḥ snāpya mantraiḥ śuddhajalena ca || 21 ||

Translation

Ô deux-fois-né, place (la divinité) vêtue d’un vêtement jaune sur une couche pure, soigneusement étendue; puis baigne-la des cinq nectars (pañcāmṛta) et aussi d’eau pure, accompagnée de mantras.

Word by Word

• pīta-ambara-dharām: wearing yellow garments
• pīta-ambara-dharām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pīta (कृदन्त/PPP from √pā/√pī?; adjectival) + ambara (प्रातिपदिक) + dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—पीतम् अम्बरं धारयति या सा (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

• śubhre: O pure one
• śubhre: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubhra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular); सम्बोधनम्—द्विजस्य

• paryaṃke: on a couch/bed
• paryaṃke: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paryaṃka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• su-āstṛte: well-spread (with coverings)
• su-āstṛte: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + āstṛta (कृदन्त/PPP from ā-√stṛ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); अव्ययीभावः—सु + आस्तृत (well-spread); विशेषणम्—पर्यङ्कस्य

• dvija: O brāhmaṇa
• dvija: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla/Anukrama (काल/अनुक्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb), क्रमवाचक (sequence)

• paṃca-amṛtaiḥ: with the five nectars (pañcāmṛta)
• paṃca-amṛtaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paṃca (संख्या) + amṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः—पञ्च अमृतानि (द्विगु)

• snāpya: having bathed (the deity/image)
• snāpya: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √snā (धातु) [णिच् causative: स्नापयति]
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund); अर्थः—स्नापयित्वा (having bathed/abluted)

• mantraiḥ: with mantras
• mantraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• śuddha-jalena: with pure water
• śuddha-jalena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śuddha (प्रातिपदिक) + jala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—शुद्धं जलम् (कर्मधारय)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Ekādaśī (Āṣāḍha śukla) context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It emphasizes purity (śuddhi) and reverence in worship: preparing a clean seat and performing mantra-accompanied bathing (snāna/abhiṣeka) as a disciplined offering that sanctifies the devotee’s mind and the ritual space.

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

Bhakti is expressed through careful service (seva) to the deity—clothing, seating, and bathing with pañcāmṛta and pure water—showing loving attention and scripturally grounded worship (vidhi-bhakti).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure) and Mantra-prayoga: the correct sequencing of offerings and the requirement that actions like bathing be performed with appropriate mantras and purified water.