Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 35

The Exposition of the Dvādaśī Vow for the Twelve Months

Dvādaśī-vrata-nirṇaya and Mahā-dvādaśī Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

गोक्षीरं गोघृतं चैव दधि तक्रं च वर्जयेत् । द्वादश्यामूर्जशुक्लायां देवं दामोदरं द्विज ॥ ३५ ॥

Transliteration

gokṣīraṃ goghṛtaṃ caiva dadhi takraṃ ca varjayet | dvādaśyāmūrjaśuklāyāṃ devaṃ dāmodaraṃ dvija || 35 ||

Translation

ينبغي الامتناع عن حليب البقر وسمن البقر (الغِهِي) واللبن الرائب (دَدهي) واللبن المخيض (تَكرا). وفي يوم الدوادشي من النصف المضيء (شُكلا) من شهر أُورجا، يا براهمن، تُعبَدُ الربّ دامودرا.

Word by Word

• go-kṣīram: cow’s milk
• go-kṣīram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक) + kṣīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• go-ghṛtam: cow’s ghee
• go-ghṛtam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक) + ghṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• eva: indeed, just
• eva: Avadharana (अवधारण/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक अव्यय)

• dadhi: curd, yogurt
• dadhi: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dadhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• takram: buttermilk
• takram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: takra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• varjayet: should avoid
• varjayet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vṛj (वृज् धातु; ‘to avoid’)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• dvādaśyām: on the Dvādaśī (12th lunar day)
• dvādaśyām: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time-locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvādaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• ūrja-śuklāyām: in the bright (fortnight) of Ūrja (Kārtika)
• ūrja-śuklāyām: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ūrja (प्रातिपदिक) + śuklā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying ‘dvādaśyām’ (in the bright fortnight of Ūrja)

• devam: the god
• devam: Karma (कर्म/Object of worship/intent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• dāmodaram: Dāmodara (Vishnu/Krishna)
• dāmodaram: Karma (कर्म/Appositional object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāmodara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); apposition to ‘devam’

• dvija: O twice-born
• dvija: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Dāmodara-vrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Damodara
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It links austerity (dietary restraint) with focused Viṣṇu-bhakti, prescribing a specific observance on Śukla Dvādaśī in Ūrja to honor Dāmodara with purity and self-control.

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

Bhakti is shown as practical and embodied: the devotee disciplines the senses by avoiding certain foods and then directs that conserved intention into worship of Dāmodara on an auspicious tithi.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects calendrical/ritual precision—observing worship by tithi (Dvādaśī), pakṣa (Śukla), and māsa (Ūrja)—a practical application aligned with jyotiṣa-based timing used in vrata and pūjā.