Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 81

The Exposition of the Dvādaśī Vow for the Twelve Months

Dvādaśī-vrata-nirṇaya and Mahā-dvādaśī Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

एवं तु मासिकं दानं कृत्वा प्राश्य यथाक्रमम् । गोमूत्रं जलमाज्यं वा पक्त्वा शाकं चतुर्विधम् ॥ ८१ ॥

Transliteration

evaṃ tu māsikaṃ dānaṃ kṛtvā prāśya yathākramam | gomūtraṃ jalamājyaṃ vā paktvā śākaṃ caturvidham || 81 ||

Translation

وهكذا، بعد أداء الصدقة الشهرية، ينبغي أن يأكل على الترتيب المقرَّر؛ وبعد أن يطبخ الخضار بإحدى الطرق الأربع—باستعمال بول البقرة أو الماء أو السمن (الغي)—فليتناوله على وفق الحكم.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Prakaraṇa (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• तु: indeed/and then
• तु: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; contrast/emphasis)

• मासिकम्: monthly
• मासिकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मासिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying दानम्)

• दानम्: gift/charity
• दानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Kriyā-samānādhikaraṇa (क्रियासम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive): 'having done'

• प्राश्य: having eaten
• प्राश्य: Kriyā-samānādhikaraṇa (क्रियासम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + अश् (धातु) + ल्यप् (क्त्वा-समकक्ष)
• Form: ल्यबन्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund): 'having eaten/tasted'

• यथा-क्रमम्: in proper sequence
• यथा-क्रमम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (indeclinable adverbial): 'in due order'

• गो-मूत्रम्: cow urine
• गो-मूत्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक) + मूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'गोः मूत्रम्'

• जलम्: water
• जलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• आज्यम्: ghee
• आज्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• पक्त्वा: having cooked
• पक्त्वा: Kriyā-samānādhikaraṇa (क्रियासम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पच् (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund): 'having cooked'

• शाकम्: vegetable/greens
• शाकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• चतुर्विधम्: fourfold (in four ways)
• चतुर्विधम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (संख्या) + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'चतुर्णां विधीनां समाहारः/युक्तम्' = fourfold

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within a dharma/vrata context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It links dāna (monthly charity) with disciplined āhāra (regulated food intake), teaching that generosity and purity of conduct together complete a vrata-like observance.

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

By emphasizing orderly practice—charity followed by restrained, rule-based living—it supports bhakti as a lived discipline where offerings and personal conduct become acts of devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects kalpa-style ritual procedure (a Vedanga-aligned domain of rules for conduct and observance), focusing on sequence (krama) and purity regulations in food preparation.