Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 11

The Exposition of the Ṣaṣṭhī-vrata Observed Through the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

पङ्कजं करवीरं च नेपालीं मालतीं तथा । नीलोत्पलं केतकीं च संगृह्य तगरं तथा ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

paṅkajaṃ karavīraṃ ca nepālīṃ mālatīṃ tathā | nīlotpalaṃ ketakīṃ ca saṃgṛhya tagaraṃ tathā || 11 ||

Translation

จงรวบรวมดอกบัว ดอกกรวีระ ดอกเนปาลี และดอกมาลตี พร้อมทั้งดอกบัวสีน้ำเงินและดอกเกตกี แล้วเก็บดอกตคระที่หอมด้วย

Word by Word

• paṅkajam: lotus
• paṅkajam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paṅkaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• karavīram: oleander flower
• karavīram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karavīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta (समुच्चय-निपात) conjunction

• nepālīm: nepālī-flower (a fragrant blossom)
• nepālīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nepālī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• mālatīm: jasmine (mālatī)
• mālatīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mālatī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• tathā: likewise/also
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) of addition

• nīlotpalam: blue lotus
• nīlotpalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nīla + utpala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन); karmadhāraya: ‘nīlam utpalam’

• ketakīm: ketakī (screw-pine flower)
• ketakīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ketakī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta (समुच्चय-निपात) conjunction

• saṃgṛhya: having gathered
• saṃgṛhya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√grah (ग्रह् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), avyaya-kriyā (अव्ययक्रिया): ‘having collected’

• tagaram: tagara (fragrant flower)
• tagaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tagara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• tathā: also/likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) of addition

Speaker

Narada (within an anukramanika-style instructional passage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It emphasizes bhakti expressed through proper upacāras—collecting pure, fragrant flowers as devotional offerings, showing care, cleanliness, and intentionality in worship.

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

Bhakti is presented as practical service: selecting and gathering appropriate offerings (pushpa) for pūjā, where devotion is embodied in disciplined, reverent action rather than mere sentiment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual procedure and material selection (kalpa-oriented practice) is implied—knowing which dravyas (flowers) are suitable for worship and how to prepare them for a rite or vrata.