Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 81

The Explanation of the Twelve-Month Caturthī Vrata

Devanagari script

नरैः स्त्रीभिर्विशेषेण कुंदपुष्पैः सकुंकुमैः । रक्तसूत्रे रक्तपुष्पैस्तथैवालक्तकेन च ॥ ८१ ॥

Transliteration

naraiḥ strībhirviśeṣeṇa kuṃdapuṣpaiḥ sakuṃkumaiḥ | raktasūtre raktapuṣpaistathaivālaktakena ca || 81 ||

Translation

男子——尤其是女子——应以昆达花（kunda）和朱红粉（kumkuma，藏红花粉）相和而行其仪，又以红线、红花，并同样以红色漆染（alta）为供。

Word by Word

• नरैः: by men
• नरैः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्तृ/सहकर्ता-समूह (agents/participants)

• स्त्रीभिः: by women
• स्त्रीभिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्तृ/सहकर्ता-समूह

• विशेषेण: especially
• विशेषेण: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययीभावार्थे (instrumental used adverbially); क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• कुंद-पुष्पैः: with kunda-flowers (jasmine blossoms)
• कुंद-पुष्पैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुंद (प्रातिपदिक) + पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; करणम् (instrument: offerings)

• स-कुंकुमैः: together with saffron/vermilion
• स-कुंकुमैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थ ‘with’) + कुंकुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘स’ उपपदपूर्वक समास; कुंदपुष्पैः-विशेषणम्

• रक्त-सूत्रे: in/with a red thread
• रक्त-सूत्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + सूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; पाठभेदे ‘रक्तसूत्रैः’ अपेक्षितम्—अत्र ‘रक्तसूत्रे’ इति रूपेण स्थान/विषय-निर्देश (locative/topic)

• रक्त-पुष्पैः: with red flowers
• रक्त-पुष्पैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; करणम् (instrument: offerings)

• तथा: thus/also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis: ‘indeed/just’)

• अलक्तकेन: with lac-dye (red coloring)
• अलक्तकेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अलक्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; करणम् (instrument: red dye/lac)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

Speaker

Narada (instructional narration within the Purva-bhaga summary tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Gaurī-vrata (context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It emphasizes auspicious, sattvic offerings and color-symbolism (red for śakti, prosperity, and devotion) as a disciplined way to express bhakti through correctly chosen worship materials.

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

Bhakti is shown as practical devotion—serving the deity through careful, reverent pūjā using prescribed flowers, kumkuma, and other auspicious items rather than mere sentiment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects kalpa-style procedural knowledge (ritual application of materials and symbols), aligning with smārta/vaidika pūjā conventions about appropriate dravya (offerings) and their use.