Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 20

Nityā-paṭala-prakaraṇa

The Exposition of the Nityā-paṭala

Devanagari script

गालितं स्वादु पूजार्हं मनोलयकरं शुभम् । वार्क्षं तु नालिकेरं स्याद्धिंतालस्याथ तालतः ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

gālitaṃ svādu pūjārhaṃ manolayakaraṃ śubham | vārkṣaṃ tu nālikeraṃ syāddhiṃtālasyātha tālataḥ || 20 ||

Translation

滤净之汁甘美，堪为供奉，吉祥而能安定其心。此类树生之饮称为“那利迦罗”（nālikera，椰子），亦可取自兴多罗（hiṅtāla）与多罗（tāla，糖棕）。

Word by Word

• गालितम्: filtered
• गालितम्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गल् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — ‘filtered/strained’

• स्वादु: sweet
• स्वादु: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वादु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — ‘sweet’ (agreeing with implied drink)

• पूजा-अर्हम्: worthy of worship
• पूजा-अर्हम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्ह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — ‘worthy of worship’ (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/Genitive-determinative)

• मनः-लय-करम्: mind-absorbing/causing mental dissolution
• मनः-लय-करम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक) + लय (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — ‘causing dissolution/absorption of the mind’ (तत्पुरुष)

• शुभम्: auspicious
• शुभम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — ‘auspicious’

• वार्क्षम्: tree-derived
• वार्क्षम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वार्क्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — ‘from a tree/arboreal’

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्धसूचक (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — अवधान/विरोधार्थक (particle: ‘but/indeed’)

• नालिकेरम्: coconut (liquor/juice)
• नालिकेरम्: प्रधानेन विधेय (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नालिकेर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (क्वचित् नपुंसकप्रयोगः), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — Nominative singular (predicate noun)

• स्यात्: should be/is said to be
• स्यात्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन — ‘would be/should be’

• हिंतालस्य: of the hiṃtāla (a palm)
• हिंतालस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिंताल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन — Genitive singular

• अथ: then/next
• अथ: सम्बन्धसूचक (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — अनुक्रम/अथार्थक (particle: ‘then/and now’)

• तालतः: from the palm tree
• तालतः: अपादान (Source/Ablative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन — Ablative singular (‘from the palm’)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, Third Pada technical discourse context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It identifies certain sweet, filtered tree-juices as śubha (auspicious) and pūjārha (fit for worship), stressing that purity (gālita) and sattvic effect (manolaya—mental calm) are key criteria for ritual offerings.

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

Bhakti is supported through right upacāra (proper offerings): presenting pure, pleasing, and auspicious substances to the deity is a practical expression of reverence and attentiveness in worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A technical, applied note akin to dravya-vicāra used in ritual practice—how specific plant sources (nālikera/coconut, hiṅtāla, tāla) are named and considered suitable offerings when properly prepared (filtered).