Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 71

Sṛṣṭi-pralaya-kathana: Mahābhūta-guṇāḥ, Vṛkṣa-indriya-vādaḥ, Prāṇa-vāyu-vyavasthā

Devanagari script

पुण्यापुण्यैस्तथा गंधैर्धूपैश्च विविधैरपि । अरोगाः पुष्पिताः संति तस्माज्जिघ्रंति पादपाः ॥ ७१ ॥

Transliteration

puṇyāpuṇyaistathā gaṃdhairdhūpaiśca vividhairapi | arogāḥ puṣpitāḥ saṃti tasmājjighraṃti pādapāḥ || 71 ||

Translation

ପୁଣ୍ୟ ଓ ଅପୁଣ୍ୟ ଗନ୍ଧ, ଏବଂ ବିଭିନ୍ନ ଧୂପଧୂଆଁରେ ମଧ୍ୟ, ଉଦ୍ଭିଦ ନିରୋଗ ହୋଇ ପୁଷ୍ପିତ ହୁଏ; ତେଣୁ ଗଛମାନେ (ମନେହୁଏ) ସେ ଗନ୍ଧ ‘ଘ୍ରାଣ’ କରନ୍ତି।

Word by Word

• puṇya-apuṇyaiḥ: by auspicious and inauspicious (things)
• puṇya-apuṇyaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक) + apuṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (as qualities), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व: 'puṇyaiḥ ca apuṇyaiḥ ca'

• tathā: likewise/also
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (प्रकारवाचक अव्यय)

• gandhaiḥ: by scents
• gandhaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• dhūpaiḥ: by incenses/fumes
• dhūpaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• vividhaiḥ: various
• vividhaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vividha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; agrees with dhūpaiḥ (and/or gandhaiḥ)

• api: also/even
• api: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), inclusion

• arogāḥ: free from disease/healthy
• arogāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-roga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; predicate adjective

• puṣpitāḥ: flowering
• puṣpitāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṣpita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; from √puṣp)
• Form: Past participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Plural; predicate adjective

• santi: are
• santi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Plural

• tasmāt: therefore
• tasmāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; pronoun

• jighranti: smell
• jighranti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ghrā (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Plural

• pādapāḥ: trees
• pādapāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pādapa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It uses a natural analogy—trees responding to fragrance—to suggest that subtle offerings like gandha and dhūpa have real efficacy; they ‘nourish’ and purify the environment, supporting auspiciousness in dharmic practice.

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

By highlighting gandha and dhūpa as potent influences, it supports the bhakti idea that sensory offerings in pūjā are meaningful acts of reverence that cultivate a sacred atmosphere conducive to devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual procedure and offering-logic (a practical aspect of kalpa/ritual application) is implied: selecting and using dhūpa/gandha as part of worship and purification practices.