Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 21

Yajñamālī–Sumālī Upākhyāna: Merit-Transfer through Temple Plastering (Lepa) and the Redemption of a Sinner

Devanagari script

कालेन गच्छता तौ तु वृद्धभावमुपागतौ । यज्ञमाली सुमाली च ह्येककाले मृतावुभौ ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

kālena gacchatā tau tu vṛddhabhāvamupāgatau | yajñamālī sumālī ca hyekakāle mṛtāvubhau || 21 ||

Translation

काळ पुढे सरताच ते दोघेही वृद्धत्वास आले; आणि यज्ञमाली व सुमाली—दोघेही एकाच वेळी मृत्युमुखी पडले.

Word by Word

• कालेन: by time
• कालेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया, एकवचन (instrumental: 'with/by time')

• गच्छता: passing, going
• गच्छता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle); तृतीया, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; 'कालेन' इति सह विशेषण (with time that is passing)

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन (dual)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोधार्थक-निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• वृद्ध-भावम्: old age
• वृद्ध-भावम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (वृद्धस्य भावः = state of old age)

• उपागतौ: reached/attained
• उपागतौ: Kriya (क्रियासमान-विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle used predicatively); प्रथमा, द्विवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; 'तौ' इत्यस्य विधेय (having reached)

• यज्ञमाली: Yajñamālī
• यज्ञमाली: Karta (कर्ता/subject in apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञमालिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सुमाली: Sumālī
• सुमाली: Karta (कर्ता/subject in apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुमालिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction: and)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चय/कारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic/causal particle)

• एक-काले: at the same time
• एक-काले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (एकः कालः = at one time)

• मृतौ: dead
• मृतौ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृत (प्रातिपदिक; √मृ धातोः क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle used adjectivally); प्रथमा, द्विवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; 'उभौ' इत्यस्य विशेषण

• उभौ: both
• उभौ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, द्विवचन

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Yajñamālī
• Sumālī
• Kāla (Time)

FAQs

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

It underscores the inevitability of aging and death under Kāla (Time), prompting detachment (vairāgya) and a turn toward lasting dharma and liberation-oriented living.

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

By highlighting life’s fragility, it indirectly urges taking refuge in enduring devotion—especially remembrance of the Divine—rather than relying on temporary worldly supports.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is ethical-spiritual: awareness of Kāla and mortality to prioritize dharma, vrata, and disciplined practice.