Shloka 53

Pūjādi-kathana — Gaṅgā Vratas, Tenfold Worship, Stotra, and Mokṣa on the Riverbank

Devanagari script

पंचामृतेन च स्नानमर्चायां तु विशिष्यते । प्रतिमाग्रे स्थंडिले तु गोमयेनोपलेपयेत् ॥ ५३ ॥

Transliteration

paṃcāmṛtena ca snānamarcāyāṃ tu viśiṣyate | pratimāgre sthaṃḍile tu gomayenopalepayet || 53 ||

Translation

Le bain rituel (abhiṣeka) de l’arcā avec le pañcāmṛta est tenu pour particulièrement méritoire ; et, sur le sol devant l’image, on doit étendre de la bouse de vache afin de le purifier.

Word by Word

• पञ्च-अमृतेन: with the five nectars (pañcāmṛta)
• पञ्च-अमृतेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक) + अमृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (पञ्च अमृतानि); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• स्नानम्: bathing (ablution)
• स्नानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अर्चायाम्: in/at the icon (arcā)
• अर्चायाम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्चा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle; emphasis)

• विशिष्यते: is especially distinguished/excellent
• विशिष्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शिष् (धातु) + वि (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लट् (present indicative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; भावे/कर्मणि-प्रायः ‘is distinguished/excels’

• प्रतिमा-अग्रे: in front of the image
• प्रतिमा-अग्रे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिमा (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (प्रतिमायाः अग्रे); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• स्थण्डिले: on the (ritual) ground/altar-spot
• स्थण्डिले: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थण्डिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• तु: then/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle)

• गोमयेन: with cow-dung
• गोमयेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोमय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• उपलेपयेत्: should smear/plaster
• उपलेपयेत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लिप् (धातु) + उप (उपसर्ग)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रत्ययान्त causative भावः (to cause to smear)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It highlights śauca (ritual purity) and reverent service to the arcā, teaching that sanctifying both the deity-image (through pañcāmṛta bathing) and the worship-space (through gomaya plastering) supports auspicious, effective worship.

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

Bhakti is expressed through careful, loving upacāra to the Lord’s arcā—offering abhiṣeka with pañcāmṛta and preparing a purified space—showing devotion as disciplined service rather than mere sentiment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects kalpa/prayoga (ritual procedure) and śauca-niyama: practical rules for preparing the sthaṇḍila and conducting abhiṣeka, aligning worship with traditional purity and liturgical method.