Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 40

Dharmānukathana

Narration of Dharma

Devanagari script

इक्षुत्येन देवेशं यः स्नापयति भूपते । केशवं लक्षपितृभिः सार्द्धं विष्णुपदं व्रजेत् ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

ikṣutyena deveśaṃ yaḥ snāpayati bhūpate | keśavaṃ lakṣapitṛbhiḥ sārddhaṃ viṣṇupadaṃ vrajet || 40 ||

Translation

噢，国王：凡以甘蔗汁水为天神之主——凯沙瓦（Keśava）——沐浴者，将与十万祖先同往毗湿奴之足（Viṣṇu-pada），即毗湿奴的至上住处。

Word by Word

• इक्षुत्येन: with sugarcane-juice (ikṣu-tya)
• इक्षुत्येन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इक्षुत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular (करण)

• देवेशम्: the Lord of gods
• देवेशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवेश (प्रातिपदिक; देव + ईश)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Relative pronoun, nominative singular

• स्नापयति: bathes
• स्नापयति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु) [णिच् causative: स्नापय-]
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; causative ‘bathes (him)’

• भूपते: O king
• भूपते: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूपति (प्रातिपदिक; भू + पति)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Vocative singular

• केशवम्: Keśava
• केशवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular (apposition to देवेशम्)

• लक्षपितृभिः: with a hundred-thousand ancestors
• लक्षपितृभिः: Sahakari (सहकारी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्षपितृ (प्रातिपदिक; लक्ष + पितृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural (सह)

• सार्द्धम्: together with
• सार्द्धम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सार्द्धम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक; indeclinable ‘together with’

• विष्णुपदम्: the abode/state of Viṣṇu
• विष्णुपदम्: Karma (कर्म/गति)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णुपद (प्रातिपदिक; विष्णु + पद)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular (destination)

• व्रजेत्: should attain/go to
• व्रजेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘should go/attain’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada; addressed as 'bhūpate' within the discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none (specific abhiṣeka substance instruction)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Keshava

FAQs

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

It teaches that offering a specific devotional abhiṣeka (ritual bathing) to Keśava is not merely ritualistic merit but a mokṣa-oriented act that leads to Viṣṇu’s supreme abode, extending grace even to one’s ancestors.

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

Bhakti is expressed through loving service (sevā) in worship—here, personally arranging the Lord’s ceremonial bath—showing that simple, sincere offerings to Viṣṇu can yield the highest spiritual destination.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects kalpa-style ritual procedure: choosing an abhiṣeka-dravya (sugarcane juice/water) and performing snāpana to Viṣṇu, along with the phala-śruti (stated result) tied to the rite.