Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 25

Yajñamālī–Sumālī Upākhyāna: Merit-Transfer through Temple Plastering (Lepa) and the Redemption of a Sinner

Devanagari script

कोमलैस्तुलसीमाल्यैर्भूषितस्तेजसां निधिः । गच्छन्विष्णुपदं दिव्यंमनुजं पथि दृष्टवान् ॥ २५ ॥

Transliteration

komalaistulasīmālyairbhūṣitastejasāṃ nidhiḥ | gacchanviṣṇupadaṃ divyaṃmanujaṃ pathi dṛṣṭavān || 25 ||

Translation

Siya’y pinalalamutian ng malalambot na kuwintas ng Tulasī—isang tunay na sisidlan ng banal na ningning. Habang patungo sa Viṣṇupada, ang dibinong tahanan ni Viṣṇu, nakita niya ang isang tao sa daan.

Word by Word

• कोमलैः: soft, tender
• कोमलैः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (सन्दर्भे मालयैः सह), तृतीया, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural (agreeing with मालयैः)

• तुलसीमाल्यैः: with garlands of tulasī
• तुलसीमाल्यैः: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुलसी + माल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (तुलस्याः माल्यानि)

• भूषितः: adorned
• भूषितः: कर्म (Object; being adorned)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भूष् (धातु) → भूषित (कृदन्त, भूतकर्मणि)
• Form: क्त-कृदन्त, कर्मणि; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Past passive participle used predicatively

• तेजसाम्: of splendors/energies
• तेजसाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; Genitive plural

• निधिः: treasure, repository
• निधिः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• गच्छन्: going
• गच्छन्: कर्ता (Agent; while going)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) → गच्छत् (कृदन्त, वर्तमान)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ), परस्मैपदी; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Present active participle

• विष्णुपदम्: Viṣṇu’s abode/footstep
• विष्णुपदम्: कर्म (Object/goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु + पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (विष्णोः पदम्)

• दिव्यम्: divine
• दिव्यम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; agreeing with विष्णुपदम्

• मनुजम्: a man
• मनुजम्: कर्म (Object of seeing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• पथि: on the path
• पथि: अधिकरण (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पथिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; Locative singular

• दृष्टवान्: saw
• दृष्टवान्: कर्ता (Agent; he saw)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) → दृष्टवत् (कृदन्त, भूत)
• Form: भूत-कृदन्त (क्तवत्), कर्तरि; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Perfective past participle (active)

Speaker

Suta (narrating a sacred account within the Purana’s dialogue framework)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Tulasi

FAQs

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

It presents Tulasī as a visible emblem of Viṣṇu-bhakti: one adorned with Tulasī is portrayed as fit for, and moving toward, Viṣṇu’s divine state (viṣṇu-pada), indicating devotional purity and salvific merit.

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

Bhakti is shown not only as inner faith but as lived practice—honoring Viṣṇu through Tulasī. Such devotion is depicted as a direct cause leading one toward Viṣṇu’s abode, with the journey imagery implying steady progress through devotional observances.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is ritual-devotional conduct (upacāra) in Vaiṣṇava practice—especially the use of Tulasī garlands as a sanctioned offering associated with mokṣa-oriented devotion.