Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 127

Dharmānukathana

Narration of Dharma

Devanagari script

जलेनापि स सालोक्यं विष्णोर्याति नरोत्तम । देवतायतने यस्तु कुर्यात्सम्मार्जनं सुधीः ॥ १२७ ॥

Transliteration

jalenāpi sa sālokyaṃ viṣṇoryāti narottama | devatāyatane yastu kuryātsammārjanaṃ sudhīḥ || 127 ||

Translation

噢，至善之人，即使仅以清水清洁，那在神庙中扫拂净治的智者，也得萨洛迦（sālokya）——与毗湿奴同居一界。

Word by Word

• जलेन: with water
• जलेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात/समुच्चयार्थक (particle: even/also)

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• सालोक्यम्: co-residence in the same world (salokya)
• सालोक्यम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स + लोक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpuruṣa): स(समान) + लोक्य (same world)

• विष्णोः: of Vishnu
• विष्णोः: सम्बन्ध (Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• याति: attains/goes
• याति: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• नर-उत्तम: O best of men
• नर-उत्तम: सम्बोधन (Sambodhana/Vocative address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष-समास: नरस्य उत्तमः

• देवतायतने: in a temple/shrine of a deity
• देवतायतने: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता + आयतन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष-समास: देवतायाः आयतनम्

• यः: who
• यः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• सम्मार्जनम्: cleaning/sweeping
• सम्मार्जनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम् + मृज् (धातु) → सम्मार्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); क्रियानाम (action noun)

• सुधीः: a wise man
• सुधीः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject; apposition to यः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु + धी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय-समास: सु(शोभना) धीः यस्य

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It elevates simple temple-sevā—sweeping and washing a shrine—as a direct, devotion-filled act that yields a high fruit: sālokya with Viṣṇu, emphasizing purity, humility, and service.

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

Bhakti is shown as practical service (kriyā-bhakti): honoring the Lord by caring for His abode. Even an ordinary act like cleaning with water becomes worship when done for the deity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual discipline and purity rules (śauca within kalpa-style practice) are implied: maintaining a clean sanctum and temple space as part of proper worship procedure.