Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 24

Yajñamālī–Sumālī Upākhyāna: Merit-Transfer through Temple Plastering (Lepa) and the Redemption of a Sinner

Devanagari script

गंधर्वैर्गीयमानश्च सेवितश्चाप्सरोगणैः । कामधेन्वा पुष्यमाणश्चित्राभरणभूषितः ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

gaṃdharvairgīyamānaśca sevitaścāpsarogaṇaiḥ | kāmadhenvā puṣyamāṇaścitrābharaṇabhūṣitaḥ || 24 ||

Translation

他为乾闼婆所歌咏，亦为众天女阿普萨罗所侍奉；又蒙如意神牛迦摩德奴滋养，身佩璀璨多彩的庄严宝饰。

Word by Word

• गन्धर्वैः: by the Gandharvas
• गन्धर्वैः: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्धर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• गीयमानः: being sung (praised)
• गीयमानः: कर्म (Object; being sung)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गै (धातु) → गीयमान (कृदन्त, वर्तमान-कालिक कर्मणि)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्यय), कर्मणि प्रयोग; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Present passive participle

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सेवितः: being attended/served
• सेवितः: कर्म (Object; being served)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सेव् (धातु) → सेवित (कृदन्त, भूतकर्मणि)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), कर्मणि; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Past passive participle

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अप्सरोगणैः: by the groups of Apsarases
• अप्सरोगणैः: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्सरा + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अप्सराणां गणः)

• कामधेन्वा: by the wish-fulfilling cow (Kāmadhenu)
• कामधेन्वा: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कामधेनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (कामदा धेनुः)

• पुष्यमाणः: being nourished
• पुष्यमाणः: कर्म (Object; being nourished)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पुष् (धातु) → पुष्यमान (कृदन्त, वर्तमान-कालिक कर्मणि)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शानच्), कर्मणि; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Present passive participle

• चित्राभरणभूषितः: adorned with splendid ornaments
• चित्राभरणभूषितः: विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चित्र + आभरण + भूषित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (चित्राणि आभरणानि येन/यैः) + क्त-कृदन्त 'भूषित' used adjectivally

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Gandharvas
• Apsarases
• Kamadhenū

FAQs

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

The verse depicts the classic purāṇic imagery of svarga-bhoga (celestial enjoyment) as the fruit of merit—being praised by Gandharvas, served by Apsarases, and sustained by Kāmadhenū—highlighting the attractive yet ultimately worldly nature of such rewards.

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

By emphasizing ornamented heavenly pleasures as outcomes of karma/puṇya, it implicitly contrasts them with the higher aim praised by bhakti traditions in the Narada Purana—seeking Bhagavān beyond temporary enjoyments rather than stopping at svarga.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa) is taught in this verse; it primarily conveys phala-vāda style imagery—describing results of merit in a purāṇic narrative register.