Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 51

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

Devanagari script

यज्ञमाली सुमाली च स्तूयमानौ महर्षिभिः । गीयमानौ च गंधर्वैर्विष्णुलोकं प्रजग्मतुः ॥ ५० ॥

Transliteration

yajñamālī sumālī ca stūyamānau maharṣibhiḥ | gīyamānau ca gaṃdharvairviṣṇulokaṃ prajagmatuḥ || 50 ||

Translation

Yajñamālī và Sumālī—được các đại hiền triết tán dương và các Gandharva ca tụng—đã lên đường và đạt đến cõi Viṣṇu (Viṣṇuloka).

Word by Word

• yajñamālī: Yajñamālī
• yajñamālī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña (प्रातिपदिक) + mālin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (नामधेय): यज्ञमालिन्; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• sumālī: Sumālī
• sumālī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sumālin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• stūyamānau: being praised
• stūyamānau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √stu (धातु)
• Form: शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि/भावे कृदन्त (present passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; ‘being praised’

• maharṣibhiḥ: by great sages
• maharṣibhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maharṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• gīyamānau: being sung (of)
• gīyamānau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gai (धातु)
• Form: शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि कृदन्त (present passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; ‘being sung (about)’

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

• gandharvaiḥ: by gandharvas
• gandharvaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandharva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• viṣṇulokam: Viṣṇu’s world
• viṣṇulokam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास: विष्णोः लोकम्; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• prajagmatuḥ: went to / reached
• prajagmatuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√gam (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन, परस्मैपद; ‘they went/arrived’

Speaker

Narada (narration within the Narada Purana dialogue context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Yajñamālī
• Sumālī
• Maharshis
• Gandharvas
• Vishnu
• Vishnuloka

FAQs

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

It presents Viṣṇuloka as the consummate destination (sadgati) for the righteous—marked by honor from maharṣis and celestial celebration—signifying divine approval and liberation-oriented merit.

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

The verse implies that a life aligned with Viṣṇu (through devotion, dharma, and sacred acts) culminates in attaining Viṣṇu’s abode; public praise and Gandharva song function as narrative indicators of bhakti-phala (the fruit of devotion).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga procedure is taught in this line; it functions as a phala-statement emphasizing the outcome of dharmic/bhakti practice rather than details of Śikṣā, Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa.