Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 25

The Second Twelve-Month Vrata: Dvitīyā Observances and Their Fruits

Devanagari script

माघशुक्लद्वितीयायां भानुरूपं प्रजापतिम् । समभ्यर्च्य यथान्यायं पूजयेद्रक्तपुष्पकैः ॥ २५ ॥

Transliteration

māghaśukladvitīyāyāṃ bhānurūpaṃ prajāpatim | samabhyarcya yathānyāyaṃ pūjayedraktapuṣpakaiḥ || 25 ||

Translation

Am Dvitīyā (zweiten Mondtag) der hellen Monatshälfte im Māgha soll man Prajāpati in der Gestalt der Sonne nach rechter Ordnung verehren und ihn gemäß dem Ritus mit roten Blumen ehren.

Word by Word

• माघ-शुक्ल-द्वितीयायाम्: on the second (tithi) of the bright fortnight of Māgha
• माघ-शुक्ल-द्वितीयायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location-Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माघ (प्रातिपदिक) + शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वितीया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (माघस्य शुक्लपक्षस्य द्वितीया)

• भानु-रूपम्: having the form of the Sun
• भानु-रूपम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भानु (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (भानोः रूपम्—भानुसदृशम्)

• प्रजापतिम्: Prajāpati
• प्रजापतिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजापति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• समभ्यर्च्य: having duly worshipped
• समभ्यर्च्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + अभि + √अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्यय-प्रयोग; (having worshipped)

• यथा-न्यायम्: according to proper rule
• यथा-न्यायम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + न्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावः; क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial)

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• रक्त-पुष्पकैः: with red flowers
• रक्त-पुष्पकैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + पुष्पक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (रक्तानि पुष्पकानि)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a vrata/ritual instruction context, traditionally within Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue flow)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none (a specific Māgha-śukla-dvitīyā solar/Prajāpati worship is prescribed but not named)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Prajapati
• Bhanu (Surya)

FAQs

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

It prescribes a time-specific observance (Māgha śukla Dvitīyā) where Prajāpati is contemplated as the Sun, emphasizing cosmic order (ṛta) and reverent alignment with dharmic ritual timing.

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

Bhakti here is expressed through upāsanā and pūjā—approaching the deity with a clear form (Sun as Prajāpati) and simple, heartfelt offerings (red flowers) performed with proper reverence and rule.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) and Jyotiṣa (tithi-based timing) are implicit: the verse specifies the exact lunar day and insists on yathānyāya—performing worship according to correct rite.