Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 94

Dvādaśī-vrata: Month-by-month Viṣṇu Worship and the Year-End Udyāpana

Devanagari script

लक्ष्मीनारायणं देवं कारयेद्भक्तिमान्व्रती । हेम्ना वा रजतेनापि तथा ताम्रेण वा द्विज ॥ ९४ ॥

Transliteration

lakṣmīnārāyaṇaṃ devaṃ kārayedbhaktimānvratī | hemnā vā rajatenāpi tathā tāmreṇa vā dvija || 94 ||

Translation

Hỡi bậc nhị sinh, người hành giả giữ giới nguyện với lòng bhakti nên cho tạc tượng Thần Lakṣmī–Nārāyaṇa—dù bằng vàng, bằng bạc, hay cũng có thể bằng đồng.

Word by Word

• lakṣmī-nārāyaṇam: Lakṣmī and Nārāyaṇa (as a single deity-form)
• lakṣmī-nārāyaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmī (प्रातिपदिक) + nārāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• devam: the deity
• devam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); apposition to lakṣmī-nārāyaṇam

• kārayet: should have (it) made / should cause (it) to be made
• kārayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ) (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular); णिजन्त (causative)

• bhaktimān: devout
• bhaktimān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhaktimat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण of vratī

• vratī: the vow-observer
• vratī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vratin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• hemnā: with gold
• hemnā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: heman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular)

• vā: or
• vā: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-निपात (disjunctive particle: 'or')

• rajatena: with silver
• rajatena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rajata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular)

• api: also
• api: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि-कार (also/even)

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: 'thus/likewise')

• tāmreṇa: with copper
• tāmreṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāmra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular)

• vā: or
• vā: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-निपात (or)

• dvija: O twice-born (brāhmaṇa)
• dvija: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (singular)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a vrata/puja context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Lakshmi
• Narayana
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that sincere devotion expressed through a vrata includes tangible worship—commissioning a Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa image—while allowing different metals according to one’s means.

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

Bhakti is shown as actionable and disciplined: a vratī supports devotion through proper pūjā arrangements, focusing on Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa as the central object of worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual practicality is highlighted: selecting acceptable materials for a pratīmā (image) as part of karmakāṇḍa-style pūjā procedure, aligning worship with dharmic guidelines rather than extravagance.