Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 14

The Narration of the Navamī Vow Observed Across the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

एवं पापहरां गंधैः पुष्पैर्धूपैश्च दीपकैः । नैवेद्यैर्विविधैश्चैव कुमारीभोजनैस्तथा ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

evaṃ pāpaharāṃ gaṃdhaiḥ puṣpairdhūpaiśca dīpakaiḥ | naivedyairvividhaiścaiva kumārībhojanaistathā || 14 ||

Translation

ดังนี้พึงบูชาด้วยวิธีชำระบาป คือด้วยเครื่องหอม ดอกไม้ ธูป และประทีป พร้อมทั้งนิเวทยะหลากหลาย และด้วยการเลี้ยงอาหารแก่กุมารีทั้งหลาย

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus/in this manner
• एवम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारार्थक-अव्यय; adverb of manner

• पापहराम्: sin-destroying (her/that)
• पापहराम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पापहरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; Accusative singular; विशेषणम्; तत्पुरुषः ‘पापं हरति’ (upapada/agentive sense)

• गन्धैः: with fragrances
• गन्धैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• पुष्पैः: with flowers
• पुष्पैः: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• धूपैः: with incense
• धूपैः: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय; conjunction

• दीपकैः: with lamps
• दीपकैः: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीपक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• नैवेद्यैः: with food-offerings
• नैवेद्यैः: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैवेद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• विविधैः: various
• विविधैः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; Instrumental plural; विशेषणम् (qualifies नैवेद्यैः)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय; conjunction

• एव: indeed/also
• एव: निपात (Particle/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय; emphatic particle

• कुमारीभोजनैः: with feeding of maidens
• कुमारीभोजनैः: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमारी + भोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; Instrumental plural; तत्पुरुषः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) ‘कुमार्याः भोजनम्’ = feeding of maidens

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय; adverb ‘likewise’

Speaker

Narada (in instruction within the Adhyaya’s ritual description)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Kaumārī-vrata (contextual continuation)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It presents a standard puja-sequence—fragrance, flowers, incense, lamp, and naivedya—framed as “pāpaharā” (sin-destroying), emphasizing that sincere devotional offerings and charitable feeding (kumārī-bhojana) are purificatory acts.

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

Bhakti is expressed through tangible upacāras (offerings) in worship—gandha, puṣpa, dhūpa, dīpa, and naivedya—showing devotion as loving service (seva) supplemented by compassionate giving like feeding kumārīs.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects ritual procedure and sequencing (kalpa-style practice): the prescribed upacāras of worship and the inclusion of a supportive rite (kumārī-bhojana) as part of vrata/puja observance.