Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 75

Dhvaja-Dhāraṇa Mahātmyam: Sumati–Satyamatī, Humility, and Deliverance by Hari’s Messengers

Devanagari script

उपलेपनकर्त्तारौ संमार्जनपरायणौ । एतौ हरिगृहे नित्यं जीर्णशीर्णाधिरोपकौ ॥ ७५ ॥

Transliteration

upalepanakarttārau saṃmārjanaparāyaṇau | etau harigṛhe nityaṃ jīrṇaśīrṇādhiropakau || 75 ||

Translation

Ce sont eux qui se vouent à l’enduit et au balayage ; dans la demeure de Hari, chaque jour, ils réparent avec zèle et restaurent ce qui est devenu vieux et brisé.

Word by Word

• उपलेपनकर्त्तारौ: two plasterers/anointers (doers of smearing)
• उपलेपनकर्त्तारौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपलेपन + कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; समासः उपलेपनस्य कर्तारौ (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• संमार्जनपरायणौ: two devoted to sweeping/cleaning
• संमार्जनपरायणौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संमार्जन + परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; समासः संमार्जने परायणौ (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष)

• एतौ: these two
• एतौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• हरिगृहे: in the house/temple of Hari
• हरिगृहे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि + गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः हरेः गृहम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाववत्)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: always)

• जीर्णशीर्णाधिरोपकौ: two repairers/restorers of what is worn and broken
• जीर्णशीर्णाधिरोपकौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीर्ण + शीर्ण + अधिरोपक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; समासः जीर्णं शीर्णं च (द्वन्द्व-पूर्वपद) + अधिरोपकौ (अधिरोपणकर्तारौ); समस्तपदं कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्राय (जीर्णशीर्णस्य अधिरोपकौ)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It elevates temple upkeep—cleaning, plastering, and repairing—as direct devotional service (seva) to Hari, showing that humble, daily acts sustain sacred space and become bhakti in action.

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

Bhakti is presented as consistent, practical service: serving Hari’s abode every day with care for cleanliness and restoration, rather than devotion being only verbal praise or occasional worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It primarily reflects ritual discipline and temple-procedure (ācāra) rather than a specific Vedanga; the takeaway is the importance of nitya-karma-like regularity and purity in worship settings.