Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 14

The Account of the Third-day Vow Observed through the Twelve Months

Tṛtīyā-vrata

Devanagari script

अक्षतैः पूजयेद्विष्णुं स्नायादप्यक्षतैर्नरः । सक्तून्संभोजयेद्विप्रान्स्वयमभ्यवहरेच्च तान् ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

akṣataiḥ pūjayedviṣṇuṃ snāyādapyakṣatairnaraḥ | saktūnsaṃbhojayedviprānsvayamabhyavaharecca tān || 14 ||

Translation

మనుడు అక్షతాలతో (అఖండ బియ్యంతో) శ్రీ విష్ణువును పూజించాలి; అక్షతాలతోనే స్నానమూ చేయాలి. బ్రాహ్మణులకు సత్తు (యవపిండి) భోజనం పెట్టి, తానూ అదే ప్రసాదంగా స్వీకరించాలి.

Word by Word

• अक्षतैः: with unbroken rice grains
• अक्षतैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; Instrumental plural (by/with)

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Parasmaipada; ‘should worship’

• विष्णुम्: Vishnu
• विष्णुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• स्नायात्: should bathe
• स्नायात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Parasmaipada; ‘should bathe’

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle) = ‘also/even’

• अक्षतैः: with unbroken rice grains
• अक्षतैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• सक्तून्: parched flour (saktu)
• सक्तून्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सक्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Accusative plural

• संभोजयेत्: should feed/entertain
• संभोजयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + भुज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; causative sense ‘should feed/entertain’; Parasmaipada

• विप्रान्: brahmins
• विप्रान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Accusative plural

• स्वयम्: personally
• स्वयम्: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) = ‘oneself/personally’

• अभ्यवहरेत्: should partake/eat
• अभ्यवहरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + आ + हृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Parasmaipada; ‘should eat/partake’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• तान्: those (them)
• तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Pronoun, Accusative plural

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a dharma/vrata context; dialogue tradition within Narada Purana commonly framed with Sanatkumara brothers)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Brahmanas

FAQs

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

It teaches a simple, sattvic form of Viṣṇu-upāsanā: purity (snāna), devotion (pūjā with akṣata), and merit through honoring brāhmaṇas with food—then sharing the consecrated remainder oneself.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through accessible ritual acts—offering akṣata to Viṣṇu, maintaining bodily and mental purity, and serving devotees/brāhmaṇas—showing devotion as worship plus compassionate, dharmic conduct.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure): the correct use of akṣata in pūjā and the dharmic etiquette of brahmana-bhojana and partaking of the same offering as prasāda.