Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4

The Description of the Caturdaśī Vrata Observed throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

अश्वमेधाधिकं पुण्यं लभते मानवो भुवि । अत्रैव दमनार्चां च कारयेद्गंधपुष्पकैः ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

aśvamedhādhikaṃ puṇyaṃ labhate mānavo bhuvi | atraiva damanārcāṃ ca kārayedgaṃdhapuṣpakaiḥ || 4 ||

Translation

มนุษย์ย่อมได้บุญยิ่งกว่าอัศวเมธในโลกนี้; และ ณ ที่นี้เองพึงให้ประกอบดมนาอรจา (บูชาด้วยดมนา) ด้วยดอกไม้หอม

Word by Word

• aśvamedha-adhikam: greater than (the merit of) the Aśvamedha
• aśvamedha-adhikam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aśvamedha (प्रातिपदिक) + adhika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifying ‘puṇyam’

• puṇyam: merit
• puṇyam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• labhate: obtains
• labhate: Kriyā (क्रिया/main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √labh (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

• mānavaḥ: a man
• mānavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mānava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• bhuvi: on earth
• bhuvi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhū (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• atra: here
• atra: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb of place (देशवाचक)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), emphatic particle (निश्चय/अवधारण)

• damanā-arcām: damanā-worship
• damanā-arcām: Karma (कर्म/object of kārayet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: damanā (प्रातिपदिक) + arcā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; ‘worship with damanā (a sacred plant)’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), conjunction (समुच्चय)

• kārayet: should cause to be done / should perform (by arranging)
• kārayet: Kriyā (क्रिया/main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु) (causative: कारय-)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Causative (णिच्)

• gandha-puṣpakaiḥ: with perfumes and flowers
• gandha-puṣpakaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandha (प्रातिपदिक) + puṣpaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

Speaker

Narada (teaching in dialogue context with Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Caturdaśī vrata (contextual); damanā-arcā component

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Ashvamedha

FAQs

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

It elevates accessible devotional worship—offering damanā and fragrant flowers—as capable of yielding merit surpassing a grand royal sacrifice, emphasizing inner devotion and right performance over scale.

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

By valuing simple, sincere arcā (ritual worship) with pure offerings, it implies that bhakti expressed through reverent worship can rival or exceed elaborate Vedic sacrifices.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual procedure (kalpa/ācāra) is implied: proper selection of offerings (damanā, gandha-puṣpa), and the injunction form 'kārayet' indicating a prescriptive rite.