Shloka 48

Devanagari script

देवमाल्यं सुगंधाढ्यं तथा देवविलेपनम् । सर्वदेवगुरोः पूर्वं सिद्धहस्तात्सुदुर्लभम् ॥ ४८ ॥

Transliteration

devamālyaṃ sugaṃdhāḍhyaṃ tathā devavilepanam | sarvadevaguroḥ pūrvaṃ siddhahastātsudurlabham || 48 ||

Translation

देवमाल्यं सुगन्धाढ्यं देवविलेपनमेव च । सर्वदेवगुरोः पूर्वं सिद्धहस्तात् सुदुर्लभं तत् समानीतं ॥

Word by Word

• देवमाल्यम्: divine garland
• देवमाल्यम्: कर्म (कर्म/Direct object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव-माल्य (प्रातिपदिक; देव + माल्य)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• सुगन्धाढ्यम्: rich in fragrance
• सुगन्धाढ्यम्: विशेषण (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-गन्ध-आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक; सु + गन्ध + आढ्य)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण—‘देवमाल्यम्/देवविलेपनम्’

• तथा: and also
• तथा: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/उपपद—‘also/and’ अर्थे

• देवविलेपनम्: divine unguent/anointing paste
• देवविलेपनम्: कर्म (कर्म/Direct object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव-विलेपन (प्रातिपदिक; देव + विलेपन)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सर्वदेवगुरोः: of the guru of all gods
• सर्वदेवगुरोः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-देव-गुरु (प्रातिपदिक; सर्व + देव + गुरु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• पूर्वम्: formerly/beforehand
• पूर्वम्: कालाधिकरण (Temporal adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभावार्थे)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण); ‘पूर्वे/पूर्वकालम्’ अर्थे

• सिद्धहस्तात्: from the accomplished hand (i.e., from an adept)
• सिद्धहस्तात्: अपादान (अपादानम्/Ablative-source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्ध-हस्त (प्रातिपदिक; सिद्ध + हस्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; अपादानार्थे

• सुदुर्लभम्: very hard to obtain
• सुदुर्लभम्: विशेषण (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक; सु + दुर्लभ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण—‘देवमाल्यम्/देवविलेपनम्’

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Brihaspati

FAQs

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

It emphasizes the sanctity and rarity of pure, fragrant offerings when they are first dedicated to the highest spiritual authority—here, the Guru of the gods—showing that devotional intention and proper precedence in worship elevate an offering’s merit.

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

Bhakti is expressed through reverent service (upacāra) such as garlands and anointing; the verse highlights that devotion becomes especially potent when offered with humility and in the right order—first to the revered guru—rather than as a casual ritual act.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual procedure (kalpa in practice) is implied: selecting appropriate upacāras (mālya, vilepana) and observing precedence (pūrvam) in offerings—key principles for correct pūjā-vidhi.