Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 95

Dvādaśī-vrata: Month-by-month Viṣṇu Worship and the Year-End Udyāpana

Devanagari script

स्थापयेत्प्रतिमां तां च कुम्भोपरि सुसंयमी । तन्मूल्यं वा द्विजश्रेष्ट काञ्चनं च स्वशक्तितः ॥ ९५ ॥

Transliteration

sthāpayetpratimāṃ tāṃ ca kumbhopari susaṃyamī | tanmūlyaṃ vā dvijaśreṣṭa kāñcanaṃ ca svaśaktitaḥ || 95 ||

Translation

持戒自制者，应将彼神像安置于已加持之圣瓶之上。或则，噢，二次生者之最胜者，当随己力以黄金奉献其等值。

Word by Word

• sthāpayet: should place / should install
• sthāpayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sthā (स्था) (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular); णिजन्त (causative)

• pratimām: the image (idol)
• pratimām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pratimā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• tām: that
• tām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण of pratimām

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (and)

• kumbha-upari: on the pot
• kumbha-upari: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kumbha (प्रातिपदिक) + upari (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय (indeclinable) अर्थे अधिकरण (locative sense: 'on/above')

• su-saṃyamī: the well-restrained (practitioner)
• su-saṃyamī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + saṃyamin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• tat-mūlyam: its value (equivalent)
• tat-mūlyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + mūlya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• vā: or
• vā: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-निपात (or)

• dvija-śreṣṭa: O best of the twice-born
• dvija-śreṣṭa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक) + śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (singular)

• kāñcanam: gold
• kāñcanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāñcana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (and)

• sva-śaktitaḥ: according to one’s ability
• sva-śaktitaḥ: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + śakti (प्रातिपदिक) + tas (तसिल्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तसिलन्त-अव्यय (ablatival adverb) = 'from/according to'; अर्थे हेतौ/परिमाणे (according to one's capacity)

Speaker

Narada (teaching Sanatkumara in dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It teaches that worship must be joined with restraint (saṃyama) and right offering (dakṣiṇā): the icon is installed properly, and an equivalent gift is given according to one’s means, making the rite ethically complete.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through orderly, reverent worship—placing the pratimā in a sanctified manner and supporting the rite with a sincere offering, not beyond one’s capacity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual application aligned with Kalpa (procedural discipline): correct placement on the kumbha and the rule of proportionate gifting (svaśaktitaḥ) as part of completing the ceremony.