Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 49

Dharmānukathana

Narration of Dharma

Devanagari script

स्नापयेत्पयसा विष्णुं शान्तिमान् वाग्यतः शुचिः । घृतेन मधुना वापि दध्ना वा तत्फलं शृणु ॥ ४९ ॥

Transliteration

snāpayetpayasā viṣṇuṃ śāntimān vāgyataḥ śuciḥ | ghṛtena madhunā vāpi dadhnā vā tatphalaṃ śṛṇu || 49 ||

Translation

心神安定、言语自持、身心清净者，当以乳为主为毗湿奴尊行沐浴灌顶（abhiṣeka）——亦可用酥油、蜂蜜或凝乳。今且听闻此仪之果报。

Word by Word

• स्नापयेत्: should bathe (cause to be bathed)
• स्नापयेत्: विधेय-क्रिया (Predicate verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्ना (धातु) [णिच् causative: स्नापय-]
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; causative (णिच्)

• पयसा: with milk
• पयसा: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; instrumental singular (with milk)

• विष्णुम्: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; accusative singular

• शान्तिमान्: peaceful
• शान्तिमान्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्ति-मत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; nominative singular; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessing peace)

• वाक्-यतः: restrained in speech
• वाक्-यतः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाक् (प्रातिपदिक) + यत (कृदन्त, √यम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; nominative singular; तत्पुरुष-समास (वाचा यतः = speech-restrained)

• शुचिः: pure
• शुचिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; nominative singular

• घृतेन: with ghee
• घृतेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; instrumental singular

• मधुना: with honey
• मधुना: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; instrumental singular

• वा: or
• वा: विकल्प (Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थ-अव्यय (disjunctive particle: or)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थ-अव्यय (particle: also/even)

• दध्ना: with curd
• दध्ना: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; instrumental singular

• वा: or
• वा: विकल्प (Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थ-अव्यय (or)

• तत्-फलम्: that result
• तत्-फलम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; accusative singular; तत्पुरुष-समास (तस्य फलम्)

• शृणु: hear
• शृणु: विधेय-क्रिया (Predicate verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with 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 links inner discipline (peace, purity, restraint of speech) with outward worship, teaching that Viṣṇu-abhisheka becomes spiritually potent when performed with sattvic conduct and clean intention.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as loving service through abhisheka—offering nourishing, auspicious substances (milk, ghee, honey, curd) while cultivating self-control, making devotion both ritual and ethical.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual procedure and discipline are emphasized—śauca (purity) and vāg-yama (speech restraint) as practical requirements for pūjā/abhisheka, reflecting applied kalpa-style ritual conduct rather than grammar or astrology.