Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 15

Dvādaśī-vrata: Month-by-month Viṣṇu Worship and the Year-End Udyāpana

Devanagari script

स्नात्वा शुक्लाम्बरधरो दन्तधावनपूर्वकम् । गन्धपुष्पाक्षतैर्धूपै र्दीपैर्नैवेद्यपूर्वकैः ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

snātvā śuklāmbaradharo dantadhāvanapūrvakam | gandhapuṣpākṣatairdhūpai rdīpairnaivedyapūrvakaiḥ || 15 ||

Translation

സ്നാനം ചെയ്ത് ശ്വേതവസ്ത്രം ധരിച്ചു, ആദ്യം ദന്തധാവനം നടത്തി, പിന്നെ ഗന്ധം, പുഷ്പം, അക്ഷതം, ധൂപം, ദീപം, നൈവേദ്യം മുതലായവകൊണ്ട് പൂജ നടത്തണം।

Word by Word

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Kriya (क्रिया-अनुक्रम/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (absolutive/gerund), ‘having bathed’

• शुक्ल-अम्बर-धरः: wearing white clothes
• शुक्ल-अम्बर-धरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बर (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—शुक्लाम्बरधर = शुक्लम् अम्बरं धरति (upapada-tatpurusha), ‘wearing white garments’ (qualifies implied worshipper)

• दन्त-धावन-पूर्वकम्: after first cleaning the teeth
• दन्त-धावन-पूर्वकम्: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + धावन (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनरूपेण क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbial accusative): ‘with tooth-cleaning as a preliminary’

• गन्ध-पुष्प-अक्षतैः: with fragrance, flowers, and rice-grains
• गन्ध-पुष्प-अक्षतैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहार-द्वन्द्व), तृतीया (करण/3rd), बहुवचन; ‘with perfumes, flowers, and unbroken rice’

• धूपैः: with incense
• धूपैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/3rd), बहुवचन

• दीपैः: with lamps
• दीपैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/3rd), बहुवचन

• नैवेद्य-पूर्वकैः: together with (offerings) preceded by naivedya
• नैवेद्य-पूर्वकैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नैवेद्य (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-प्रयोगे, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; समासः—नैवेद्यपूर्वक = नैवेद्यं पूर्वं यस्य/येन (tatpurusha), ‘preceded by food-offering’ (qualifies the offering-items/instruments)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to 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 teaches that inner devotion is supported by outer purity: bathing, cleanliness, and orderly offerings prepare the body and mind as a fit vessel for worship.

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

Bhakti is expressed through respectful service (upachara) to the deity—fragrance, flowers, incense, lamp, and naivedya—performed after personal purification, making devotion disciplined and reverent.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure) and Achara-shastra: the correct sequence of preparatory acts (snana, dantadhavana) and standard puja items (upacharas) used in formal worship.