Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 55

Dharmānukathana

Narration of Dharma

Devanagari script

तिलतैलेन संस्नाप्य विष्णुं वा शिवमेव च । स याति तत्तत्सारूप्यं पितृभिः सह सप्तभिः ॥ ५५ ॥

Transliteration

tilatailena saṃsnāpya viṣṇuṃ vā śivameva ca | sa yāti tattatsārūpyaṃ pitṛbhiḥ saha saptabhiḥ || 55 ||

Translation

Омовив (абхишекой) Вишну или самого Шиву кунжутным маслом, человек достигает сарупьи — подобия облику этого божества — вместе со своими семью питри, предками.

Word by Word

• tilatailena: with sesame oil
• tilatailena: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tilataila (tila + taila)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• saṃsnāpya: having bathed
• saṃsnāpya: Purvakalika Kriya
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam + snā (धातु)
• Form: Lyap Pratyaya, Causal

• viṣṇum: Vishnu
• viṣṇum: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• vā: or
• vā: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• śivam: Shiva
• śivam: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• eva: indeed / only
• eva: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (Emphatic)

• ca: and
• ca: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular, Pronoun

• yāti: goes / attains
• yāti: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yā (धातु)
• Form: Lat Lakara (Present), Prathama Purusha, Ekavachana

• tattatsārūpyam: that respective form/likeness
• tattatsārūpyam: Karma (Goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tattatsārūpya (tad + tad + sārūpya)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• pitṛbhiḥ: with ancestors
• pitṛbhiḥ: Sahartha (Association)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• saha: with / along with
• saha: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: Preposition (governs Instrumental)

• saptabhiḥ: seven
• saptabhiḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saptan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural, Numeral

Speaker

Sanatkumāra (teaching Nārada in dialogue style)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none (general abhiṣeka rule applicable to Viṣṇu/Śiva)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shiva
• Pitrs

FAQs

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

It teaches that a simple, sincere ritual act—anointing/bathing Viṣṇu or Śiva with sesame oil—can yield a high spiritual fruit: sārūpya (divine likeness), and it also elevates one’s ancestral line (up to seven pitṛs).

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

Bhakti is shown as accessible through concrete worship (abhiṣeka/upacāra). Devotion expressed in offering and reverence to the chosen deity (Viṣṇu or Śiva) becomes the direct cause of divine grace and liberation-like attainment (sārūpya).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual procedure (kalpa-oriented practice) is implied: using a specific dravya (tilataila) for abhiṣeka and understanding its phala (result), linking worship acts with prescribed outcomes, including pitṛ-benefit across seven generations.