Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 80

The Narration of the Trayodaśī Vow Observed Throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

विधाय निधिभिः सार्द्धं सौवर्णाभिर्द्विजोत्तम । उपचारैः षोडशभिः स्नानैः पंचामृतादिभिः ॥ ७९ ॥

Transliteration

vidhāya nidhibhiḥ sārddhaṃ sauvarṇābhirdvijottama | upacāraiḥ ṣoḍaśabhiḥ snānaiḥ paṃcāmṛtādibhiḥ || 79 ||

Translation

Ô meilleur des brahmanes, après avoir dûment disposé trésors et offrandes d’or, qu’on honore (la divinité) par les seize modes de service, en accomplissant des bains rituels avec le pañcāmṛta et d’autres substances sacrées.

Word by Word

• विधाय: having arranged/performed
• विधाय: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial to main action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वि + √धा (धातु) + ल्यप् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), अर्थः—विधाय (having arranged/performed)

• निधिभिः: with treasures
• निधिभिः: सहकारक/करण (Instrument/with)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन (Instr. pl.)

• सार्द्धम्: together with
• सार्द्धम्: सह (Saha/Association)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सार्द्धम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, सहार्थक (indeclinable: together with)

• सौवर्णाभिः: with golden (items/images)
• सौवर्णाभिः: करण/सह (Instrument/with)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुवर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन (Instr. pl.), विशेषण (agreeing with understood 'प्रतिमाभिः/मूर्तिभिः' etc.)

• द्विजोत्तम: O best of the twice-born
• द्विजोत्तम: सम्बोधन (Sambodhana/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन एकवचन (Voc. sg.); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (द्विजानाम् उत्तमः)

• उपचारैः: with offerings/services
• उपचारैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन (Instr. pl.)

• षोडशभिः: with sixteen
• षोडशभिः: विशेषण (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षोडश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (संख्यावाचक) विशेषण, तृतीया बहुवचन (Instr. pl.), पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-रूप (agreeing with 'उपचारैः/स्नानैः')

• स्नानैः: with baths/ablutions
• स्नानैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन (Instr. pl.)

• पञ्चामृतादिभिः: with pañcāmṛta and the like
• पञ्चामृतादिभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च + अमृत + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन (Instr. pl.); समासः—(पञ्चामृत) कर्मधारय/द्विगु-सदृश (पञ्च अमृतानि यस्मिन्) + आदि; समस्ततः 'पञ्चामृत-आदि' = 'pañcāmṛta etc.'

Speaker

Suta (narrating Narada Purana’s summary-style instructions; framed as instruction to a Brahmin listener)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Dhanada-vrata (Kubera-vrata)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It emphasizes disciplined, reverential worship—offering one’s best resources and completing worship with ṣoḍaśopacāra and purifying abhiṣeka—so devotion is expressed through ordered sacred action.

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

Bhakti here is shown as attentive service (upacāra): lovingly honoring the deity with prescribed offerings and ceremonial bathing, turning wealth and effort into an act of surrender and reverence.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects kalpa-oriented ritual know-how (procedure of pūjā/abhiṣeka), especially the standardized ṣoḍaśopacāra framework and pañcāmṛta usage in consecratory bathing.