Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 27

Devanagari script

नित्ये पंचपलं प्रोक्तमथवा मानसी रुचिः ॥ २७ ॥

Transliteration

nitye paṃcapalaṃ proktamathavā mānasī ruciḥ || 27 ||

Translation

于日常恒常之行，规定用量为五帕拉（pala）；或亦可随心中所起之意乐，即依自身内在之力，以纯心作供与修持。

Word by Word

• nitye: in the daily (observance)
• nitye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakalिङ्ग, Saptamī (7th/Locative), Ekavacana; used as context 'in the daily (rite)'

• paṃca-palam: five palas (quantity)
• paṃca-palam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paṃca (अव्यय/संख्या) + pala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakalिङ्ग, Prathamā/ द्वितीया, Ekavacana; dvigu compound meaning a measure/quantity

• proktam: is stated
• proktam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + vac (धातु) + kta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Bhūta-kṛdanta (past passive participle), Napuṃsakalिङ्ग, Prathamā/ द्वितीया, Ekavacana; predicative 'is said'

• athavā: or else
• athavā: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: athavā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; alternative conjunction (विकल्पार्थ)

• mānasī: mental/according to the mind
• mānasī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mānasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (1st/Nominative), Ekavacana; agrees with ruciḥ

• ruciḥ: preference/liking
• ruciḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ruci (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (1st/Nominative), Ekavacana

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a technical/ritual context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It teaches that daily dharmic practice has a standard external measure, yet inner sincerity is also recognized—mental performance can substitute when needed, preserving continuity of nitya-karma.

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

By validating mānasa (mental) performance, it aligns with bhakti’s emphasis on inner intention—worship and offering can be done through heartfelt remembrance when physical means are limited.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects ritual-technical precision (a quantified measure like pañcapala) alongside an authorized alternative (mānasa), a common dharma-śāstric method for adapting rites to eligibility and circumstance.