Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 140

Nityā-paṭala-prakaraṇa

The Exposition of the Nityā-paṭala

Devanagari script

नालिकेरफलोपे तैर्गुडैर्लक्ष्मीमवाप्नुयात् । तथाज्यसिक्तैः कह्लारैः क्षीराक्तैररुणोत्पलैः ॥ १४० ॥

Transliteration

nālikeraphalope tairguḍairlakṣmīmavāpnuyāt | tathājyasiktaiḥ kahlāraiḥ kṣīrāktairaruṇotpalaiḥ || 140 ||

Translation

En offrant du jaggery avec des noix de coco, on obtient Lakṣmī, la prospérité. De même, en offrant des lotus kahlāra aspergés de ghee et des lotus rouges oints de lait, on atteint une fortune de bon augure.

Word by Word

• नालिकेर-फल-उपे: in/with the coconut-fruit offering (context: oblation using coconut fruit)
• नालिकेर-फल-उपे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नालिकेर (प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक) + उप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण/locative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (नालिकेरस्य फलम्; फलस्य उपः/उपयोजनम्)

• तैः: with those
• तैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• गुडैः: with jaggery
• गुडैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• लक्ष्मीम्: prosperity/fortune
• लक्ष्मीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• अवाप्नुयात्: should obtain
• अवाप्नुयात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु) उपसर्गः अव-
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; धातुः—आप् (to obtain)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (thus/likewise)

• आज्य-सिक्तैः: sprinkled with ghee
• आज्य-सिक्तैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आज्य (प्रातिपदिक) + सिक्त (कृदन्त; सिच् धातोः क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (आज्येन सिक्तः)

• कह्लारैः: with kahlāra lotuses
• कह्लारैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कह्लार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; 'कह्लार' = a kind of lotus/water-lily

• क्षीर-आक्तैः: smeared with milk
• क्षीर-आक्तैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षीर (प्रातिपदिक) + आक्त (कृदन्त; अञ्ज् धातोः क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (क्षीरेण आक्तः = smeared with milk)

• अरुण-उत्पलैः: with red lotuses
• अरुण-उत्पलैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरुण (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्पल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (अरुणानि उत्पलानि)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Lakshmi

FAQs

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

It teaches that specific, sattvic offerings—coconut with jaggery and carefully prepared lotus offerings—are prescribed as upacāras that invite Lakṣmī, symbolizing auspiciousness, stability, and prosperity in dharmic life.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through reverent, orderly worship (pūjā-upacāra): offering pure foods and flowers with ghee and milk as acts of loving service, aligning material prosperity with devotional discipline.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual know-how (kalpa-style procedure) is emphasized—choosing prescribed materials and preparing them correctly (anointing/sprinkling), reflecting technical competence in worship rather than abstract theology.