Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 36

The Description of the Caturdaśī Vrata Observed throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

अप्सरो मरकन्याभिर्नागकन्याभिरार्चिते । शरीरारोग्यलावण्यं देहि देवि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

apsaro marakanyābhirnāgakanyābhirārcite | śarīrārogyalāvaṇyaṃ dehi devi namo'stu te || 36 ||

Translation

Lạy Nữ Thần, Đấng được các Apsarā, các thiếu nữ Marā và các thiếu nữ Nāga phụng thờ—xin ban cho con thân thể khỏe mạnh và dung sắc rạng ngời. Con kính lễ Ngài.

Word by Word

• apsaraḥ: O Apsaras
• apsaraḥ: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: apsaras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Nominative singular; addressed deity/apsaras-form)

• marakanyābhiḥ: by the daughters of the Maras
• marakanyābhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mara-kanyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन (Instrumental plural)

• nāgakanyābhiḥ: by the Nāga maidens
• nāgakanyābhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāga-kanyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन (Instrumental plural)

• ārcite: O worshipped one
• ārcite: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ārcita (कृदन्त; √arc धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन/प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘O (one) worshipped’

• śarīra-ārogya-lāvaṇyam: bodily health and beauty
• śarīra-ārogya-lāvaṇyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śarīra (प्रातिपदिक) + ārogya (प्रातिपदिक) + lāvaṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन (Accusative singular; object of ‘give’)

• dehi: grant
• dehi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (दा) (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन (give!)

• devi: O Goddess
• devi: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन (Vocative singular)

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Prayojana/भाव (भाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namaḥ (अव्यय/निपात)
• Form: अव्यय, नमस्कारार्थक निपात (indeclinable particle of salutation)

• astu: be
• astu: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (अस्) (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative/benedictive sense), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (let it be)

• te: to you
• te: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन (Dative singular; ‘to you’)

Speaker

A devotee/supplicant addressing the Goddess (stuti-prayoga within the chapter narrative)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Devi
• Apsaras
• Nāga-kanyā

FAQs

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

It models stuti (devotional praise) as a direct spiritual practice: acknowledging the Goddess as universally revered and seeking her grace for well-being, which in Purāṇic devotion is seen as a fruit of sincere surrender (namas) and worship (arcana).

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

Bhakti is expressed through humble address—“O Devi… namo’stu te”—and a clear, heartfelt petition. The verse shows the bhakta approaching the deity with reverence, praising her exalted status, and requesting boons as outcomes of devotion and worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual application (kalpa-prayoga) is implied: a stuti used in arcana/pujā as a prayer for ārogya (health) and lāvaṇya (radiance). No technical detail of vyākaraṇa or jyotiṣa is explicit in this single verse.