Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 56

Daśamī-vrata: Observances for the Bright Tenth Day Through the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

कृत्वा स्वर्णमयान्विप्र गंधाद्यैरुपचारकैः । आत्मा ह्यायुर्मनो दक्षो मदः प्राणस्तथैव च ॥ ५६ ॥

Transliteration

kṛtvā svarṇamayānvipra gaṃdhādyairupacārakaiḥ | ātmā hyāyurmano dakṣo madaḥ prāṇastathaiva ca || 56 ||

Translation

ഹേ ബ്രാഹ്മണാ! സ്വർണമയ (മൂർത്തികൾ/രൂപങ്ങൾ) നിർമ്മിച്ച് സുഗന്ധാദി ഉപചാരങ്ങളാൽ അവയെ പൂജിക്കണം; ആത്മാവുതന്നെ ആയുസ്സ്, മനസ്, ദക്ഷത, തേജസ് (മദ) കൂടാതെ പ്രാണനും ആണെന്ന് ഗ്രഹിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive)

• स्वर्णमयान्: golden (images)
• स्वर्णमयान्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (स्वर्णमय = made of gold)

• विप्र: O brahmin
• विप्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• गन्धाद्यैः: with perfumes and the like
• गन्धाद्यैः: Karana (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; अव्ययीभाव-समास (गन्ध-आदि = perfumes etc.)

• उपचारकैः: with offerings/attendant services
• उपचारकैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपचारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• आत्मा: Ātmā
• आत्मा: Karta (कर्ता/subject—name)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• आयुः: Āyus (life)
• आयुः: Karta (कर्ता/subject—name)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मनः: Manas (mind)
• मनः: Karta (कर्ता/subject—name)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• दक्षः: Dakṣa
• दक्षः: Karta (कर्ता/subject—name)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मदः: Mada
• मदः: Karta (कर्ता/subject—name)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्राणः: Prāṇa
• प्राणः: Karta (कर्ता/subject—name)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Narada (instructional narration within the Anukramanika-style section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none (part of the same ritual sequence)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It links outer worship (golden forms honored with upacāras like fragrance) to inner realization: all vitality—life-span, mind, competence, vigor, and prāṇa—ultimately rests in the Self (Ātman).

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

It suggests bhakti is not only ceremonial; the offerings and reverence should culminate in recognizing the indwelling Self as the real support of life and spiritual power, making worship inwardly transformative.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual praxis is emphasized through upacāra-vidhi (attendant offerings like gandha). While not a technical Vyākaraṇa/Astronomy verse, it reflects applied Kalpa-style ritual procedure joined to spiritual meaning.