Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 5

Devapūjā-krama: Ārghya-saṃskāra, Maṇḍala–Nyāsa, Mudrā-pradarśana, Āvaraṇa-arcana, Homa, Japa, and Kṣamāpaṇa

Devanagari script

संक्षाल्यास्रेण प्रणवं तदुपर्यष्टधा जपेत् । सामान्यार्घमिदं प्रोक्तं सर्वसिद्धिकरं नृणाम् ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

saṃkṣālyāsreṇa praṇavaṃ taduparyaṣṭadhā japet | sāmānyārghamidaṃ proktaṃ sarvasiddhikaraṃ nṛṇām || 5 ||

Translation

ജലത്തിൽ ശുദ്ധി വരുത്തി അതിന്മേൽ പ്രണവം ‘ഓം’ എട്ടുതവണ ജപിക്കണം. ഇതിനെ ‘സാമാന്യ അർഘ്യം’ എന്നു പറയുന്നു; ഇത് മനുഷ്യർക്കു സർവ്വസിദ്ധി നൽകുന്നു.

Word by Word

• संक्षाल्य: having washed
• संक्षाल्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+क्षल् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); ‘having washed’

• अस्रेण: with a stream (of water)
• अस्रेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; ‘with a stream’ (reading uncertain: अस्रेण/स्रेण)

• प्रणवम्: the praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्रणवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; demonstrative pronoun

• उपरि: above/upon
• उपरि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उपरि (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb/Preposition (उपसर्गवत् अव्यय)

• अष्टधा: eightfold / eight times
• अष्टधा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अष्टधा (अव्यय)
• Form: Numeral adverb (प्रकारवाचक अव्यय)

• जपेत्: should recite
• जपेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; parasmaipada

• सामान्य-अर्घम्: the general argha-offering
• सामान्य-अर्घम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सामान्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्घ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; कर्मधारय: ‘सामान्यः अर्घः’ → ‘general offering’

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• प्रोक्तम्: is declared
• प्रोक्तम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Neuter, Nominative Singular; ‘said/declared’

• सर्व-सिद्धि-करम्: bringing all attainments
• सर्व-सिद्धि-करम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: सर्वासां सिद्धीनां करम्; agrees with इदम्

• नृणाम्: of men
• नृणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Praṇava (Oṃ)

FAQs

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

It presents a simple, universal rite: purify water and empower it through eight repetitions of Oṃ, making the arghya a spiritually charged offering that supports overall success (siddhi) in practice.

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

By centering the act on the Praṇava, it turns a routine offering into remembrance of the Supreme through sacred sound—an accessible devotional discipline integrated into ritual.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Mantra-prayoga and ritual procedure: the verse specifies a counted japa (aṣṭadhā) and a purification step (rinsing with water), showing technical correctness in performance.