Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 28

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

Devanagari script

यज्ञमालीदयायुक्तो विष्णुदूतान्समीपगान् । कोऽयं भटैर्बाध्यमानं इत्यपृच्छत्कृतांजलिः ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

yajñamālīdayāyukto viṣṇudūtānsamīpagān | ko'yaṃ bhaṭairbādhyamānaṃ ityapṛcchatkṛtāṃjaliḥ || 28 ||

Translation

យជ្ញមាលីមានចិត្តមេត្តា បានចូលទៅជិតទូតវិષ્ણុ ហើយប្រណម្យដៃសំពះ សួរថា៖ «អ្នកនេះជានរណា ដែលកំពុងត្រូវយាមទាំងនេះរំខានបៀតបៀន?»

Word by Word

• यज्ञमाली: Yajñamālī (name; ‘garlanded for sacrifice’)
• यज्ञमाली: कर्ता (Subject; appositional)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ + माली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (यज्ञस्य माली)

• दयायुक्तः: endowed with compassion
• दयायुक्तः: विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दया + युक्त (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुष sense ‘दयया युक्तः’ (endowed with compassion)

• विष्णुदूतान्: Viṣṇu’s messengers
• विष्णुदूतान्: कर्म (Object of addressing/asking)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु + दूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (विष्णोः दूताः)

• समीपगान्: standing nearby
• समीपगान्: विशेषण (Qualifier of विष्णुदूतान्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समीप + ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष ‘समीपं गच्छन्ति/गताः’ = ‘nearby’

• कः: who
• कः: कर्ता (Subject of implied ‘is’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Interrogative pronoun

• अयम्: this (person)
• अयम्: कर्ता (Subject of implied ‘is’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Demonstrative pronoun

• भटैः: by the guards/soldiers
• भटैः: करण (Instrument/Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• बाध्यमानम्: being tormented
• बाध्यमानम्: कर्म (Object; being afflicted)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बाध् (धातु) → बाध्यमान (कृदन्त, वर्तमान कर्मणि)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शानच्), कर्मणि; द्वितीया, एकवचन; Present passive participle

• इति: thus
• इति: वाक्यसूचक (Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/वाक्यसमाप्ति-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• अपृच्छत्: asked
• अपृच्छत्: कर्ता (Agent)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतन-भूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; Imperfect ‘asked’

• कृताञ्जलिः: with folded hands
• कृताञ्जलिः: विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत + अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (कृतः अञ्जलिः येन) = ‘with hands folded’

Speaker

Narrator (Purana narration describing Yajñamālī’s action)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Vishnudutas
• Yajñamālī

FAQs

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

It highlights reverence toward divine agents (Viṣṇudūtas) and shows compassion (dayā) as a dharmic impulse that prompts inquiry and protection of the distressed.

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

By depicting respectful approach (kṛtāñjali) to Viṣṇu’s messengers, it reinforces Vaiṣṇava bhakti as humility, faith in divine protection, and concern for others.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga is taught directly; the practical takeaway is dharma-nīti—proper conduct: approaching spiritual authority with humility and asking clear questions to understand a situation.