Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 10

The Description of the Caturdaśī Vrata Observed throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

उपचारैः षोडशभिः स्नानैः पंचामृतादिभिः । ततः क्षमापयेद्देवं मन्त्रेणानेन नारद ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

upacāraiḥ ṣoḍaśabhiḥ snānaiḥ paṃcāmṛtādibhiḥ | tataḥ kṣamāpayeddevaṃ mantreṇānena nārada || 10 ||

Translation

Par les seize modes d’adoration et par les bains rituels avec le pañcāmṛta et autres offrandes liquides, qu’ensuite on implore le pardon de la Divinité au moyen de ce mantra, ô Nārada.

Word by Word

• उपचारैः: with services/offerings
• उपचारैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• षोडशभिः: with sixteen
• षोडशभिः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षोडश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण

• स्नानैः: with baths/ablutions
• स्नानैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• पञ्चामृतादिभिः: with pañcāmṛta and the like
• पञ्चामृतादिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्चामृत + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; ‘पञ्चामृत-आदि’ = pañcāmṛta etc.

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of sequence)

• क्षमापयेत्: should cause (him) to forgive / should seek pardon
• क्षमापयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षमापय् (धातु; √क्षम + णिच्)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• देवम्: the deity
• देवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• मन्त्रेण: by/with the mantra
• मन्त्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• अनेन: with this
• अनेन: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• नारद: O Nārada
• नारद: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (addressing Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Deva (the worshipped deity, typically Vishnu in Narada Purana ritual context)

FAQs

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

It teaches that worship is completed not only by offerings and abhiṣeka, but also by humility—formally seeking the Lord’s forgiveness through a prescribed mantra.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as loving service (ṣoḍaśopacāra), reverent abhiṣeka (pañcāmṛta), and surrender (kṣamāpana), placing the devotee’s attitude above mere ritual performance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights kalpa-style ritual procedure: the structured use of ṣoḍaśopacāra, abhiṣeka substances like pañcāmṛta, and the correct sequencing culminating in a kṣamāpana mantra.