Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 21

Dharmānukathana

Narration of Dharma

Devanagari script

सर्वलोकोपकारार्थं पुष्पारामं जनेश्वर । कुर्वते देवतार्थं वा तेषां पुण्यफलं शृणु ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

sarvalokopakārārthaṃ puṣpārāmaṃ janeśvara | kurvate devatārthaṃ vā teṣāṃ puṇyaphalaṃ śṛṇu || 21 ||

Translation

Ô seigneur des hommes, écoute le fruit méritoire de ceux qui créent un jardin de fleurs, soit pour le bien de tous, soit comme offrande destinée aux divinités.

Word by Word

• सर्वलोक-उपकार-अर्थम्: for the benefit of all people
• सर्वलोक-उपकार-अर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्व + लोक + उपकार + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; द्वितीया-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययवत् (अर्थम्) = ‘for the sake of’; (सर्वलोकस्य उपकारार्थम्)

• पुष्पारामम्: a flower-garden
• पुष्पारामम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प + आराम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पुष्पाणाम् आरामः)

• जनेश्वर: O lord of people
• जनेश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (जनानाम् ईश्वरः)

• कुर्वते: they do/make
• कुर्वते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

• देवतार्थम्: for the sake of the deity/deities
• देवतार्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: देवता + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; द्वितीया-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययवत् = ‘for the sake of the deity/deities’

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक निपात

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• पुण्यफलम्: the fruit of merit
• पुण्यफलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य + फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पुण्यस्य फलम्)

• शृणु: hear (listen)
• शृणु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada, addressing a king as 'janeśvara' within the instruction)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Devata (the deities)

FAQs

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

It elevates a practical, life-sustaining act—establishing a flower garden—into dharma, teaching that public welfare and devotional intent both generate spiritual merit (puṇya).

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

By framing the garden as “devatārtha”—meant for the deities—it presents bhakti as tangible service: creating resources (flowers) used in worship and sacred offerings.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual practice is implied: flowers are core upacāras in pūjā and temple offerings, so the verse supports correct devotional procedure (kalpa-oriented practice) rather than a specific technical Vedāṅga like Jyotiṣa or Vyākaraṇa.