Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 6

The Description of the Caturdaśī Vrata Observed throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

लिंगमभ्यर्चयेच्चैवं स्नात्वा धौतांबरः सुधीः । गंधाद्यैरुपचारैश्च बिल्वपत्रैश्च सर्वतः ॥ ६ ॥

Transliteration

liṃgamabhyarcayeccaivaṃ snātvā dhautāṃbaraḥ sudhīḥ | gaṃdhādyairupacāraiśca bilvapatraiśca sarvataḥ || 6 ||

Translation

Như vậy, sau khi tắm gội và mặc y phục thanh sạch, người hiền trí nên đúng nghi thức thờ phụng Śiva-liṅga bằng các phẩm vật như hương chiên-đàn và những sự phụng sự khác, lại rải lá bilva khắp chung quanh.

Word by Word

• liṅgam: the liṅga (Śiva-emblem)
• liṅgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• abhyarcayet: should worship
• abhyarcayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-arc (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• snātvā: having bathed
• snātvā: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: snā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वक्रिया (prior action)

• dhauta-ambaraḥ: wearing washed clothes
• dhauta-ambaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhauta (धातु √dhāv/√dhau? क्त-प्रत्यय) + ambara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; विशेषण—‘धौतं अम्बरं यस्य’ (wearing washed garments)

• su-dhīḥ: the wise man
• su-dhīḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su + dhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; गुणवाचक (wise person)

• gandha-ādyaiḥ: with perfumes and the like
• gandha-ādyaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandha + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; ‘गन्धादयः’ (fragrance etc.)

• upacāraiḥ: with offerings/services
• upacāraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upacāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• bilva-patraiḥ: with bilva leaves
• bilva-patraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bilva + patra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; ‘बिल्वस्य पत्राणि’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• sarvataḥ: from all sides / completely
• sarvataḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvatas (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/परिमाणवाचक अव्यय (adverb: on all sides/entirely)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a dharma-ritual context; traditional dialogue framework with Sanatkumara lineage implied for this section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Śiva-vrata (implied continuation of the sequence)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Linga
• Bilva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes purity (bathing and clean clothes) and complete, respectful service (upacāras) as the inner and outer discipline that makes liṅga-worship spiritually effective.

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

Bhakti is expressed here as attentive service—offering fragrant substances and bilva leaves with reverence—showing devotion through careful, loving ritual action rather than mere words.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects ritual discipline aligned with Kalpa (procedural rules of worship) and basic śauca (purity) principles—bathing, clean garments, and prescribed offerings like bilva leaves.