Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 23

Yajñamālī–Sumālī Upākhyāna: Merit-Transfer through Temple Plastering (Lepa) and the Redemption of a Sinner

Devanagari script

दिव्यं विमानमारुह्य यज्ञमाली महामतिः । पूज्यमानः सुरगणैः स्तूयमानो मुनीश्वरैः ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

divyaṃ vimānamāruhya yajñamālī mahāmatiḥ | pūjyamānaḥ suragaṇaiḥ stūyamāno munīśvaraiḥ || 23 ||

Translation

Montant dans le vimāna divin, le magnanime Yajñamālī—honoré par les cohortes de devas et loué par les sages suprêmes—s’avança dans la gloire.

Word by Word

• दिव्यम्: divine
• दिव्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'विमानम्' इत्यस्य विशेषण

• विमानम्: celestial chariot
• विमानम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विमान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आरुह्य: having mounted
• आरुह्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-रुह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); अव्ययकृदन्त (having mounted)

• यज्ञमाली: Yajñamālī
• यज्ञमाली: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञमालिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• महामतिः: the great-minded one
• महामतिः: Karta (कर्ता/subject-apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महान् मतिः यस्य)

• पूज्यमानः: being worshipped
• पूज्यमानः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: शानच्-प्रत्यय (present passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'यज्ञमाली' इत्यस्य विशेषण

• सुर-गणैः: by groups of gods
• सुर-गणैः: Karana (करण/कर्तृसाधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (सुराणां गणाः)

• स्तूयमानः: being praised
• स्तूयमानः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: शानच्-प्रत्यय (present passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'यज्ञमाली' इत्यस्य विशेषण

• मुनि-ईश्वरैः: by sage-lords
• मुनि-ईश्वरैः: Karana (करण/कर्तृसाधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (मुनीनां ईश्वराः = lords among sages)

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) describing the episode within the Purāṇic narration

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Yajñamālī
• Sura-gaṇa (Devas)
• Munīśvara (great sages)

FAQs

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

It portrays the Purāṇic principle that sustained dharma—especially yajña and meritorious conduct—culminates in divine recognition, symbolized by ascent to a celestial vimāna and public honor by devas and sages.

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

While the verse foregrounds ritual merit (yajña), the honor by devas and munis reflects the broader Narada Purana theme: sincere sacred action offered in reverence leads to grace and upliftment, which bhakti later perfects as wholehearted dedication to the Divine.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse implicitly points to proper yajña-performance—an area supported by Vedāṅga disciplines such as Kalpa (ritual procedure) and Śikṣā (correct recitation), since “Yajñamālī” signifies excellence crowned by sacrificial observance.