Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 20

The Pañcarātra Vow (Haripañcaka Vrata): Observance from Śukla Ekādaśī to Pūrṇimā

Devanagari script

गन्धपुष्पादिभिः सम्यग्देवदेवं जनार्दनम् । अभ्यर्च्योपायनं दद्याद्ब्राह्यणाय जितेन्द्रियः ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

gandhapuṣpādibhiḥ samyagdevadevaṃ janārdanam | abhyarcyopāyanaṃ dadyādbrāhyaṇāya jitendriyaḥ || 20 ||

Translation

Avec des parfums, des fleurs et autres offrandes, qu’on adore comme il se doit Janārdana, le Dieu des dieux; puis, les sens maîtrisés, qu’on remette un présent respectueux (upāyana) à un brāhmane.

Word by Word

• गन्ध-पुष्प-आदिभिः: with perfumes, flowers, etc.
• गन्ध-पुष्प-आदिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/Instrumental), बहुवचन; ‘आदि’समासान्त—‘गन्धपुष्पादि’ = ‘गन्धपुष्पादयः’

• सम्यक्: properly
• सम्यक्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• देव-देवम्: the God of gods
• देव-देवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘देवानां देवः’

• जनार्दनम्: Janardana (Vishnu)
• जनार्दनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनार्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन

• अभ्यर्च्य: having worshipped
• अभ्यर्च्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि+अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive); ‘अभ्यर्च्य’ = having worshipped

• उपायनम्: a gift/offerings
• उपायनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपायन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ब्राह्मणाय: to a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान/Dative), एकवचन

• जित-इन्द्रियः: one who has controlled the senses
• जित-इन्द्रियः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जित (कृदन्त; √जि धातु) + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘जितानि इन्द्रियाणि यस्य सः’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Janardana
• Brahmana

FAQs

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

It links sincere Vishnu-worship (puja with pure offerings) with ethical discipline and generosity, showing that devotion is completed by self-control and dharmic giving.

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

Bhakti here is not only ritual adoration of Janardana but also a transformed life: a devotee becomes jitendriya (sense-controlled) and expresses devotion through respectful offerings and charity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa-oriented ritual order: first perform proper deity-arcana with prescribed upacaras (gandha, puṣpa, etc.), then conclude with dana (upāyana) to a qualified brāhmaṇa.