Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 82

Bhakti-Śraddhā-Ācāra-Māhātmya and the Commencement of the Mārkaṇḍeya Narrative

Devanagari script

अश्रुभिः क्षालयंस्तस्य चरणौ हर्षसंभवैः । शिरस्यञ्चलिमाधाय स्तोतुं समुपचक्रमे ॥ ८२ ॥

Transliteration

aśrubhiḥ kṣālayaṃstasya caraṇau harṣasaṃbhavaiḥ | śirasyañcalimādhāya stotuṃ samupacakrame || 82 ||

Translation

ହର୍ଷଜ ଅଶ୍ରୁଦ୍ୱାରା ସେ ତାଙ୍କ ଚରଣଦ୍ୱୟକୁ କ୍ଷାଳନ କଲେ; ଏବଂ ଶିରେ ଅଞ୍ଜଳି ଧରି ସ୍ତୁତି ଆରମ୍ଭ କଲେ।

Word by Word

• अश्रुभिः: with tears
• अश्रुभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• क्षालयन्: washing
• क्षालयन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षल् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; धातुः—क्षल् (to wash)

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• चरणौ: (his) two feet
• चरणौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• हर्ष-संभवैः: born of joy
• हर्ष-संभवैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हर्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + संभव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (हर्षात् सम्भवाः)

• शिरसि: on (his) head
• शिरसि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अञ्जलिम्: folded hands (añjali)
• अञ्जलिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आधाय: having placed
• आधाय: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया; धातुः—आ+धा (to place)

• स्तोतुम्: to praise
• स्तोतुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive), प्रयोजनार्थक

• समुपचक्रमे: began/undertook
• समुपचक्रमे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-उप-क्रम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) describing the devotee’s act of reverence within the Narada–Sanatkumāra dialogue frame

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: karuna

FAQs

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

It presents bhakti as embodied reverence: joy-born tears sanctify the act of serving the revered one’s feet, and añjali on the head expresses complete surrender before beginning praise.

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

Bhakti is shown as heartfelt and physical service (pāda-sevā) joined with humility (añjali) and then expressed as stotra—devotion moving from inner emotion to disciplined worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught in this verse; it instead highlights ritual etiquette (ācāra) associated with respectful worship and the proper commencement of hymns.