Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 97

Dvādaśī-vrata: Month-by-month Viṣṇu Worship and the Year-End Udyāpana

Devanagari script

अनन्तशायिनं देवं नारायणमनामयम् । पञ्चामृतेन प्रथमं स्नापयेद्भक्तिसंयुतः ॥ ९७ ॥

Transliteration

anantaśāyinaṃ devaṃ nārāyaṇamanāmayam | pañcāmṛtena prathamaṃ snāpayedbhaktisaṃyutaḥ || 97 ||

Translation

Animé de dévotion, qu’on baigne d’abord (abhiṣeka) le Seigneur Nārāyaṇa—l’Anantaśāyin, sans faute et sans maladie—avec le pañcāmṛta.

Word by Word

• ananta-śāyinam: the one who lies on Ananta (Śeṣa)
• ananta-śāyinam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ananta (प्रातिपदिक) + śāyin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण of devam/nārāyaṇam

• devam: the deity
• devam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• nārāyaṇam: Nārāyaṇa
• nārāyaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• anāmayam: free from disease/affliction
• anāmayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: an-āmaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण of nārāyaṇam

• pañca-amṛtena: with pañcāmṛta (five nectars)
• pañca-amṛtena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pañca (प्रातिपदिक) + amṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular)

• prathamam: first
• prathamam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prathama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावार्थे/क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbial accusative: 'first/firstly')

• snāpayet: should bathe (him) / should cause to be bathed
• snāpayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √snā (स्ना) (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular); णिजन्त (causative)

• bhakti-saṃyutaḥ: endowed with devotion
• bhakti-saṃyutaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃyuta (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-निष्पन्न)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण of (implicit) kartā

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a Vaishnava ritual context; dialogue frame traditionally with Sanatkumara brothers)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Anantashayin
• Ananta (Shesha)
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It prioritizes devotion-led worship and establishes pañcāmṛta-abhiṣeka as the first, auspicious act in honoring Nārāyaṇa, the flawless Lord who removes impurity and affliction.

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

Bhakti is presented as the essential inner qualification—ritual action (snāpana/abhiṣeka) becomes spiritually effective when performed with heartfelt devotion to Nārāyaṇa.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa-style ritual procedure: a prescribed sequence ("first") for abhiṣeka and the standard pañcāmṛta offering used in pūjā manuals aligned with Vedic ritual practice.