Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 94

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

Devanagari script

लक्ष्मीनारायणं देवं कारयेद्भक्तिमान्व्रती । हेम्ना वा रजतेनापि तथा ताम्रेण वा द्विज ॥ ९४ ॥

Transliteration

lakṣmīnārāyaṇaṃ devaṃ kārayedbhaktimānvratī | hemnā vā rajatenāpi tathā tāmreṇa vā dvija || 94 ||

Translation

ഹേ ദ്വിജ! ഭക്തിയോടെ വ്രതം അനുഷ്ഠിക്കുന്നവൻ ലക്ഷ്മീനാരായണ ദേവന്റെ പ്രതിമ നിർമ്മിപ്പിക്കണം—സ്വർണ്ണത്തിലോ, വെള്ളിയിലോ, അല്ലെങ്കിൽ താമ്രത്തിലോ।

Word by Word

• lakṣmī-nārāyaṇam: Lakṣmī and Nārāyaṇa (as a single deity-form)
• lakṣmī-nārāyaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmī (प्रातिपदिक) + nārāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• devam: the deity
• devam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); apposition to lakṣmī-nārāyaṇam

• kārayet: should have (it) made / should cause (it) to be made
• kārayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ) (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular); णिजन्त (causative)

• bhaktimān: devout
• bhaktimān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhaktimat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण of vratī

• vratī: the vow-observer
• vratī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vratin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• hemnā: with gold
• hemnā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: heman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular)

• vā: or
• vā: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-निपात (disjunctive particle: 'or')

• rajatena: with silver
• rajatena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rajata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular)

• api: also
• api: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि-कार (also/even)

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: 'thus/likewise')

• tāmreṇa: with copper
• tāmreṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāmra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular)

• vā: or
• vā: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-निपात (or)

• dvija: O twice-born (brāhmaṇa)
• dvija: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (singular)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a vrata/puja context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Lakshmi
• Narayana
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that sincere devotion expressed through a vrata includes tangible worship—commissioning a Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa image—while allowing different metals according to one’s means.

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

Bhakti is shown as actionable and disciplined: a vratī supports devotion through proper pūjā arrangements, focusing on Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa as the central object of worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual practicality is highlighted: selecting acceptable materials for a pratīmā (image) as part of karmakāṇḍa-style pūjā procedure, aligning worship with dharmic guidelines rather than extravagance.