Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

स्नापयेत्प्रस्थपयसा नारायणमनामयम् । गीतैर्वाद्यैश्च नैवेद्यैर्भक्ष्यैर्भोज्यैश्च केशवम् ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

snāpayetprasthapayasā nārāyaṇamanāmayam | gītairvādyaiśca naivedyairbhakṣyairbhojyaiśca keśavam || 18 ||

Translation

പ്രസ്ഥമാത്രം പാലുകൊണ്ട് രോഗരഹിതനായ നാരായണനെ സ്നാപനം ചെയ്ത്, ഗീത-വാദ്യങ്ങളോടുകൂടി ഭക്ഷ്യ-ഭോജ്യ നൈവേദ്യം അർപ്പിച്ച് കേശവനെ ആരാധിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• स्नापयेत्: should bathe (cause to be bathed)
• स्नापयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधि), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; णिच्-प्रत्यय (Causative) — ‘स्नापयति’

• प्रस्थ-पयसा: with a prastha of milk
• प्रस्थ-पयसा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रस्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + पयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम्; तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः— ‘प्रस्थस्य पयसा’ (with milk of a prastha-measure)

• नारायणम्: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्; द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचनम्

• अनामयम्: free from disease; flawless
• अनामयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनामय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्; द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifier) नारायणम्-विशेषणम्

• गीतैः: with songs
• गीतैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम्; तृतीया, बहुवचनम्

• वाद्यैः: with musical instruments
• वाद्यैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम्; तृतीया, बहुवचनम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• नैवेद्यैः: with food-offerings (naivedya)
• नैवेद्यैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैवेद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम्; तृतीया, बहुवचनम्

• भक्ष्यैः: with eatables/snacks
• भक्ष्यैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम्; तृतीया, बहुवचनम्

• भोज्यैः: with foods (to be eaten)
• भोज्यैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम्; तृतीया, बहुवचनम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• केशवम्: Keśava
• केशवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्; द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; नारायणस्य पर्यायः

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Keshava
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It teaches that loving, sensory devotion—abhisheka (bathing), music, and sanctified food-offerings—purifies the worshipper and expresses reverence to the flawless Lord Nārāyaṇa.

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

Bhakti is shown as active service (seva): honoring Viṣṇu with abhiṣeka, devotional singing, instruments, and naivedya, transforming ordinary acts (food, sound) into worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual measurement and procedure are implied—e.g., using a defined unit (prastha) for offerings—reflecting practical kalpa-style discipline in worship rather than abstract theory.