Shloka 48

Pūjādi-kathana — Gaṅgā Vratas, Tenfold Worship, Stotra, and Mokṣa on the Riverbank

Devanagari script

वस्त्रस्रग्दामकंठस्य पूर्णकुंभस्य चोपरि । संस्थाप्य पूजयेद्देवीं तदलाभे मृदादि वा ॥ ४८ ॥

Transliteration

vastrasragdāmakaṃṭhasya pūrṇakuṃbhasya copari | saṃsthāpya pūjayeddevīṃ tadalābhe mṛdādi vā || 48 ||

Translation

വസ്ത്രം, മാല, കണ്ഠാഭരണം എന്നിവകൊണ്ട് അലങ്കരിച്ച പൂർണ്ണകുംഭത്തിന്റെ മുകളിൽ (പ്രതിമ) സ്ഥാപിച്ച് ദേവിയെ പൂജിക്കണം; അത് ലഭ്യമല്ലെങ്കിൽ മണ്ണ് മുതലായവ ഉപയോഗിച്ചും (പൂജ) ചെയ്യാം।

Word by Word

• वस्त्रस्रग्दामकण्ठस्य: of (one) with cloth, garland, and necklace/neck-ornament
• वस्त्रस्रग्दामकण्ठस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + स्रज्/स्रग् (प्रातिपदिक) + दाम (प्रातिपदिक) + कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-समास; ‘वस्त्र-स्रक्-दाम-कण्ठ’ इति समाहार-द्वन्द्व-प्रायः (set of cloth/garland/necklace/neck-ornament); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• पूर्णकुम्भस्य: of the full pot
• पूर्णकुम्भस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + कुम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (पूर्णः कुम्भः); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• उपरि: upon/above
• उपरि: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उपरि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (above/upon)

• संस्थाप्य: having installed
• संस्थाप्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + √स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund) ‘संस्थाप्य’ = having installed/placed

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• देवीम्: the goddess
• देवीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन

• तद्-अलाभे: if that is not available
• तद्-अलाभे: Nimitta/Condition (निमित्त)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अलाभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (तस्य अलाभः = its non-availability); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन; ‘in case of non-availability of that’

• मृदादि: clay and the like
• मृदादि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृद् (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (मृद् आदि यस्य तत्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; ‘clay etc.’

• वा: or
• वा: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्प (or)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a ritual-instruction sequence; dialogue frame traditionally with Sanatkumara)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Devi

FAQs

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

It teaches that devotion is supported by auspicious ritual form (placing the Devi on a sanctified, decorated pūrṇa-kumbha), yet the essence of worship is accessible even with simple substitutes like clay when ideal materials are unavailable.

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

Bhakti is shown as practical and inclusive: one offers the best available honors (cloth, garlands, adornment) to the Goddess, but sincere worship is not blocked by lack of resources.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure) principles: proper installation (saṃsthāpya), use of auspicious supports like the pūrṇa-kumbha/kalasha, and sanctioned substitutions (pratinidhi-dravya) when prescribed items are unavailable.