Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 65

The Description of the Caturdaśī Vrata Observed throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

स्नात्वागाधजले विप्र विरूपाक्षं शिवं यजेत् । गंधमाल्यनमस्कारधूपदीपान्नसंपदा ॥ ६५ ॥

Transliteration

snātvāgādhajale vipra virūpākṣaṃ śivaṃ yajet | gaṃdhamālyanamaskāradhūpadīpānnasaṃpadā || 65 ||

Translation

婆罗门啊，沐浴于深水之后，当以香、花鬘、恭敬顶礼，并以熏香、明灯与丰盛食供，礼拜三目之毗卢帕叉——湿婆。

Word by Word

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: पूर्वक्रिया (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), धातु: स्ना; अर्थे: पूर्वकर्म (having bathed)

• अगाध-जले: in deep water
• अगाध-जले: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अगाध (प्रातिपदिक) + जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; समास: कर्मधारय (अगाधं जलं यस्मिन्)

• विप्र: O brāhmaṇa
• विप्र: सम्बोधन (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• विरूपाक्षम्: Virūpākṣa (Śiva)
• विरूपाक्षम्: कर्म (Karma/Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विरूपाक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (विरूपे अक्षिणी यस्य)

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: कर्म (Karma/Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• यजेत्: should worship
• यजेत्: विधेयक्रिया (Predicate action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• गन्ध-माल्य-नमस्कार-धूप-दीप-अन्न-संपदा: with offerings of scent, garlands, salutations, incense, lamps, and food
• गन्ध-माल्य-नमस्कार-धूप-दीप-अन्न-संपदा: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + माल्य (प्रातिपदिक) + नमस्कार (प्रातिपदिक) + धूप (प्रातिपदिक) + दीप (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + संपद्/संपदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; समास: समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective) — ‘with the resources/means of fragrance, garlands, salutations, incense, lamps, and food’

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a prescriptive/ritual instruction style within the Purva Bhaga)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Virupaksha

FAQs

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

It links inner and outer purification: bathing (śauca) prepares the devotee to approach Śiva, and the listed offerings express reverence, gratitude, and disciplined devotion through prescribed upacāras.

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

Bhakti is shown as tangible service—worship with fragrance, garlands, prostration, incense, lamp, and food—making devotion concrete through respectful ritual attention to the deity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is emphasized: the sequence of snāna followed by pūjā with standard upacāras (dhūpa, dīpa, naivedya) reflects practical ritual discipline rather than grammar or astrology.