Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 34

The Description of the Caturdaśī Vrata Observed throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

नरो वा यदि वा नारी रंभामुपवनस्थिताम् । स्नात्वा संपूजयेद्गंधपुष्पधान्यांकुरादिभिः ॥ ३४ ॥

Transliteration

naro vā yadi vā nārī raṃbhāmupavanasthitām | snātvā saṃpūjayedgaṃdhapuṣpadhānyāṃkurādibhiḥ || 34 ||

Translation

Dù nam hay nữ, sau khi tắm gội, hãy đúng pháp thờ phụng Rambhā đang ngự trong khu vườn thiêng, bằng hương thơm, hoa, ngũ cốc, mầm non và các lễ vật tương tự.

Word by Word

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (disjunctive particle: or)

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्त-अव्यय (conditional particle: if)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (or)

• नारी: a woman
• नारी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• रम्भाम्: Rambhā (name of a deity/apsaras)
• रम्भाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रम्भा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• उपवनस्थिताम्: situated in a grove/garden
• उपवनस्थिताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उपवन + स्थित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; ‘स्थित’ = स्था-धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), qualifying रम्भाम्

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having bathed’

• संपूजयेत्: should worship properly
• संपूजयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; Optative, Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• गन्धपुष्पधान्याङ्कुरादिभिः: with fragrances, flowers, grains, sprouts, etc.
• गन्धपुष्पधान्याङ्कुरादिभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध + पुष्प + धान्य + अङ्कुर + आदि (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Plural; समाहार/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (list-compound)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Kadali-vrata (implied by immediate context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Rambha

FAQs

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

It emphasizes purity (snāna) and inclusive eligibility (man or woman) for devotional worship, showing that simple sattvic offerings—fragrance, flowers, grains, and sprouts—are valid means of honoring a revered divine presence in a sacred setting.

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

Bhakti is expressed through respectful pūjā using accessible offerings and a purified body-mind (after bathing), highlighting devotion as practical reverence rather than mere theory.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied: bathing before worship, selecting appropriate offerings, and performing saṃpūjā in a prescribed sacred space (upavana).