Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 22

The exposition of the Pañcamī vow to be observed in the twelve months

Devanagari script

जपं निवेद्य देवाय भवाय भवरूपिणे । स्तुत्वा सर्वैर्वौदिकैश्च पौराणैश्चाप्यनाकुलः ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

japaṃ nivedya devāya bhavāya bhavarūpiṇe | stutvā sarvairvaudikaiśca paurāṇaiścāpyanākulaḥ || 22 ||

Translation

その誦持（ジャパ）を、世の生成を超えつつもまた生成の相として顕れる主バヴァに奉献し、ついで心を乱さず、あらゆるヴェーダの讃歌とプラーナの讃歌とをもって讃嘆した。

Word by Word

• japam: the japa/recitation
• japam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: japa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• nivedya: having offered
• nivedya: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√vid (विद् धातु; ‘to present/offer’ in causative sense)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त), ‘having offered/presented’

• devāya: to the god
• devāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• bhavāya: to Bhava (Śiva)
• bhavāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th), Singular; epithet of Śiva

• bhava-rūpiṇe: to the one whose form is Bhava
• bhava-rūpiṇe: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhava (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th), Singular; तत्पुरुषः—भवरूपः (having the form/nature of Bhava)

• stutvā: having praised
• stutvā: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √stu (स्तु धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त)

• sarvaiḥ: with all
• sarvaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; agrees with (stotra/śabda) implied or with following groups collectively

• vaidikaiḥ: Vedic (hymns)
• vaidikaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vaidika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd), Plural

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction

• paurāṇaiḥ: Purāṇic (hymns)
• paurāṇaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paurāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd), Plural

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle

• anākulaḥ: unconfused/calm
• anākulaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: an-ākula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; privative a- (नञ्)

Speaker

Narada (narrative voice within the Narada Purana’s instructional flow, commonly framed as teaching to/through the Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Bhava (Shiva)

FAQs

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

It teaches that japa should be consciously dedicated (nivedya) to the deity and completed with stuti; devotion becomes steady when it is offered with clarity (anākulatā) and grounded in both Vedic and Purāṇic authority.

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

Bhakti is shown as a complete worship-cycle: mantra-recitation (japa) offered to the Lord, followed by heartfelt praise (stotra). The verse also affirms that devotion may draw from both Vedic and Purāṇic hymnody without inner conflict.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The practical takeaway is ritual application: correct performance and dedication of japa and stuti in a Vaidika manner—supported by proper mantra usage and liturgical recitation (closely aligned with Śikṣā and Vyākaraṇa in practice, though not explicitly named).