Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 70

Devapūjā-krama: Ārghya-saṃskāra, Maṇḍala–Nyāsa, Mudrā-pradarśana, Āvaraṇa-arcana, Homa, Japa, and Kṣamāpaṇa

Devanagari script

नार्पयेत्कुसुमं पत्रं फलं देवे ह्यधोमुखम् । पुष्पपत्रादिकं विप्र यथोत्पन्नं तथार्पयेत् ॥ ७० ॥

Transliteration

nārpayetkusumaṃ patraṃ phalaṃ deve hyadhomukham | puṣpapatrādikaṃ vipra yathotpannaṃ tathārpayet || 70 ||

Translation

ไม่ควรถวายดอกไม้ ใบไม้ หรือผลไม้แด่เทพด้วยการหันคว่ำลง ดูก่อนพราหมณ์ จงถวายสิ่งเหล่านั้นตามสภาพที่งอกงามโดยธรรมชาติ.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation particle)

• अर्पयेत्: should offer
• अर्पयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अर्प् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• कुसुमम्: a flower
• कुसुमम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुसुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• पत्रम्: a leaf
• पत्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• फलम्: a fruit
• फलम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• देवे: to/for the deity
• देवे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location-Target)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Nipata (निपात/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चये अव्यय (particle: indeed/for)

• अधो-मुखम्: facing downward
• अधो-मुखम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधः (अव्यय) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय (adhomukha = downward-facing)

• पुष्प-पत्र-आदिकम्: flowers, leaves, etc.
• पुष्प-पत्र-आदिकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + पत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); द्वन्द्व (pūṣpa-patra) with आदिशब्द (etc.)

• विप्र: O brāhmaṇa
• विप्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• यथा-उत्पन्नम्: as it is produced/obtained
• यथा-उत्पन्नम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + उत्पन्न (कृदन्त, √पद्/√पन् with ut-)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); अव्ययीभाव (yathā-utpannam = as it has arisen); भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past participle)

• तथा: thus/in that manner
• तथा: Prakara (प्रकार/manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: thus)

• अर्पयेत्: should offer
• अर्पयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अर्प् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

Speaker

Sanatkumāra (in instruction to Nārada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Deva (the worshipped deity)

FAQs

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

It teaches reverent precision in worship: offerings should be presented in a dignified, natural orientation, expressing attentiveness and respect toward the deity.

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

Bhakti is shown as careful, mindful service (sevā) in pūjā—devotion is not only emotion but also disciplined, respectful conduct in offering.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects ritual protocol aligned with Kalpa (a Vedāṅga dealing with procedures): correct method and orientation of offerings is part of proper pūjā-vidhi.