Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 5

Pūrṇimā-vrata (Lakṣmī–Nārāyaṇa-vrata): Observance, Moon Arghya, and Annual Udyāpana

Devanagari script

शुक्लाम्बरधरः शुद्धो गृहमागगत्य वाग्यतः । प्रक्षाल्य पादावाचम्य स्मरत्रारायणं प्रभुम् ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

śuklāmbaradharaḥ śuddho gṛhamāgagatya vāgyataḥ | prakṣālya pādāvācamya smaratrārāyaṇaṃ prabhum || 5 ||

Translation

శుభ్రమైన తెల్ల వస్త్రాలు ధరించి, శుద్ధుడై, ఇంటికి వచ్చి వాక్సంయమంతో ఉండి, పాదాలు కడిగి ఆచమనం చేసి, పరమప్రభువు నారాయణుని స్మరించాలి।

Word by Word

• śukla-ambara-dharaḥ: wearing white garments
• śukla-ambara-dharaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śukla (प्रातिपदिक) + ambara (प्रातिपदिक) + dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/1st), Ekavacana (Singular); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (कर्मधारय-प्रायः) ‘शुक्लं अम्बरं धारयति’

• śuddhaḥ: pure
• śuddhaḥ: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nom.), Ekavacana; विशेषणम्

• gṛham: to the house/home
• gṛham: Karma (कर्म/Object of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative/2nd), Ekavacana; गन्तव्य-देशः

• āgamatya: having come/arrived
• āgamatya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Preceding action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā√gam (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), ‘आगम्य/आगत्य’ अर्थे; क्रियाविशेषणम् (पूर्वक्रिया)

• vāk-yataḥ: restrained in speech
• vāk-yataḥ: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक) + yata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; समासः—तत्पुरुषः ‘वाचा यतः’ (speech-restrained)

• prakṣālya: having washed
• prakṣālya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra√kṣāl (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्); क्रियाविशेषणम् (पूर्वक्रिया)

• pādau: (his) two feet
• pādau: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (Acc.), Dvivacana (Dual)

• ācamya: having sipped (water) / performed ācamana
• ācamya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā√cam (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्); ‘आचमनं कृत्वा’

• smaret: should remember
• smaret: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √smṛ (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (Optative/विधिलिङ्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana; परस्मैपदम्

• nārāyaṇam: Nārāyaṇa
• nārāyaṇam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (Acc.), Ekavacana

• prabhum: the Lord
• prabhum: Karma (कर्म/Object; appositive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (Acc.), Ekavacana; nārāyaṇasya viśeṣaṇam (apposition)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It teaches that external cleanliness (white, clean clothing; washing the feet; ācamana) should culminate in inner purity—Vishnu-smaraṇa—making devotion the true completion of ritual.

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

Bhakti is presented as smaraṇa (remembrance) of Nārāyaṇa performed with a disciplined body and speech; the simple act of remembering the Lord after purification becomes a direct devotional practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights kalpa-style ritual procedure: śauca (cleanliness), pāda-prakṣālana (washing feet), and ācamana as preparatory acts before japa, pūjā, or scriptural recitation.