Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 33

The Exposition of the Ṣaṣṭhī-vrata Observed Through the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

कपिलां धेनुमभ्यर्च्य वस्त्रमाल्यानुलेपनैः । प्रदद्याद्वेदविदुषे द्वादशात्मप्रतुष्टये ॥ ३३ ॥

Transliteration

kapilāṃ dhenumabhyarcya vastramālyānulepanaiḥ | pradadyādvedaviduṣe dvādaśātmapratuṣṭaye || 33 ||

Translation

Nachdem man die kapilā, die fahl-rotgoldene Milchkuh, mit Gewändern, Girlanden und Salben verehrt hat, soll man sie einem Kenner der Veden schenken, zur Befriedigung des Zwölffachen Selbst—des im Innern wohnenden Göttlichen in zwölf Aspekten.

Word by Word

• कपिलाम्: tawny
• कपिलाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कपिला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (tawny)

• धेनुम्: a cow
• धेनुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धेनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (कर्म), एकवचनम्

• अभ्यर्च्य: having worshipped
• अभ्यर्च्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु) + अभि- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive); ‘having worshipped’

• वस्त्र-माल्य-अनुलेपनैः: with garments, garlands, and unguents
• वस्त्र-माल्य-अनुलेपनैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + माल्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुलेपन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (करण/Instrumental), बहुवचनम्; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (वस्त्रैः माल्यैः अनुलेपनैश्च)

• प्रदद्यात्: should give
• प्रदद्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकारः (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• वेद-विदुषे: to a knower of the Veda
• वेद-विदुषे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + विद्वस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, चतुर्थी-विभक्तिः (सम्प्रदान/Dative), एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (वेदं वेत्ति इति)

• द्वादश-आत्म-प्रतुष्टये: for the satisfaction of the twelve-formed (Lord)
• द्वादश-आत्म-प्रतुष्टये: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रतुष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, चतुर्थी-विभक्तिः (प्रयोजन/Dative of purpose), एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (द्वादशात्मनः प्रतुष्टिः = satisfaction of the twelve-formed deity/self)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Veda
• Atman

FAQs

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

It teaches that worship followed by righteous gifting (dāna) purifies intent and is offered inwardly to the Divine Self, here described as the ‘twelvefold’ indwelling principle, making charity a spiritual act rather than mere social giving.

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

By prescribing reverent worship (with cloth, garlands, and sandal/unguents) and then offering the honored gift to a worthy Veda-knower, the verse frames devotion as service and surrender—external offerings culminating in an act dedicated to the indwelling Lord.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It emphasizes ritual propriety and eligibility: the gift is directed to a veda-vid (learned recipient), reflecting dharmaśāstric rules of dāna (proper recipient, proper item, and consecration through worship) rather than a technical Vedāṅga like vyākaraṇa or jyotiṣa.