Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 46

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

Devanagari script

गोचर्ममात्रभूमेस्तु उपलेपनजं फलम् । दत्त्वोद्धर महाभाग भ्रातरं कृपयान्वितः ॥ ४५ ॥

Transliteration

gocarmamātrabhūmestu upalepanajaṃ phalam | dattvoddhara mahābhāga bhrātaraṃ kṛpayānvitaḥ || 45 ||

Translation

牛皮ほどの小さき地であっても、塗り清めることより生ずる功徳がある。その功徳を施し給え、幸いなる者よ。慈悲をもって汝の兄弟を救い上げよ。

Word by Word

• गो-चर्म-मात्र-भूमेः: of land measuring (only) a cowhide
• गो-चर्म-मात्र-भूमेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक) + चर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक) + भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः: 'गोचर्मस्य मात्रं (परिमाणम्) या भूमिः' इति; 'फलम्' इत्यस्य सम्बन्धः (of the land...)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोधार्थक-निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• उपलेपन-जम्: produced from plastering (with cow-dung etc.)
• उपलेपन-जम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उपलेपन (प्रातिपदिक) + ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; पञ्चमी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थः: 'उपलेपनात् जातम्' (arising from plastering/smearing); 'फलम्' इति विशेषणम्

• फलम्: the merit/result
• फलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय; अर्थः: having given

• उद्धर: rescue (him)
• उद्धर: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्धृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; उपसर्गः उद्-

• महाभाग: O fortunate one
• महाभाग: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाभाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• भ्रातरम्: brother
• भ्रातरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• कृपया: with compassion
• कृपया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृपा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; करण/हेतु-भावः (by/with compassion)

• अन्वितः: endowed (with)
• अन्वितः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्वित (प्रातिपदिक; √इ/अन्वि- से क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle used adjectivally); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; 'त्वम्' (implicit) इति विशेषणम्

Speaker

Sanatkumara (instructional voice within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It teaches that even small, sincere acts of ritual purification (like preparing a clean sacred space) generate real spiritual merit, and that merit should be used compassionately to help uplift others.

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

By emphasizing compassion and selfless intention: devotion is not only worship but also using one’s religious gains to benefit others—an expression of bhakti through mercy and service.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects kalpa-style ritual practicality: preparing and purifying a worship area (through upalepana) as a dharmic act, stressing correct sacred-space preparation before rites.