Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 51

The Exposition of Spiritual Knowledge

Jñāna-pradarśanam

Devanagari script

देवतायतने नित्यं सम्मार्जनपरो भव । तथोपलेपनं चैव कुरुष्व सुसमाहितः ॥ ५१ ॥

Transliteration

devatāyatane nityaṃ sammārjanaparo bhava | tathopalepanaṃ caiva kuruṣva susamāhitaḥ || 51 ||

Translation

Dans le temple de la Divinité, sois sans cesse appliqué au balayage et au nettoyage. De même, l’esprit bien recueilli, accomplis aussi l’enduisage et le badigeonnage du lieu sacré.

Word by Word

• देवता-आयतने: in the temple/shrine of the deity
• देवता-आयतने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक) + आयतन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (devatāyāḥ āyatanam)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb): 'always'

• सम्मार्जन-परः: intent on sweeping/cleaning
• सम्मार्जन-परः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्मार्जन (प्रातिपदिक) + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (sammārjane paraḥ = intent on cleaning)

• भव: be
• भव: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार, मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): 'likewise/also'

• उपलेपनम्: smearing/plastering (with cow-dung etc.)
• उपलेपनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपलेपन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक निपात (emphatic particle)

• कुरुष्व: do/perform
• कुरुष्व: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार, मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• सु-समाहितः: well-collected/attentive
• सु-समाहितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (अव्यय/उपसर्ग) + समाहित (कृदन्त; सम्-आ-धा धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle) 'well-composed/attentive'

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Devatā (the Deity)
• Devatāyatana (temple/shrine)

FAQs

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

It teaches that humble physical service in the deity’s temple—cleaning and ritually purifying the space—functions as devotional worship (seva) and supports inner purity through disciplined, mindful action.

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

Bhakti is shown not only as prayer but as attentive service: maintaining the deity’s abode with steadiness and concentration turns ordinary labor into worship and expresses reverence for the divine presence.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It emphasizes ritual cleanliness (śauca) and correct temple procedure—practical elements aligned with Kalpa-style discipline (proper conduct in rites and sacred spaces), stressing both method (cleaning/smearing) and mental focus.