Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 58

The Exposition of the Saptamī Vow Observed Across Twelve Months

Saptamī-vrata-prakāśana

Devanagari script

दक्षिणां नालिकेराणि तेभ्यो दत्वा गुरुं ततः । सौवर्णं तु रवेर्बिम्बं युक्तं दक्षिणयान्यया ॥ ५८ ॥

Transliteration

dakṣiṇāṃ nālikerāṇi tebhyo datvā guruṃ tataḥ | sauvarṇaṃ tu raverbimbaṃ yuktaṃ dakṣiṇayānyayā || 58 ||

Translation

Zuerst gebe man ihnen die Dakṣiṇā in Form von Kokosnüssen. Danach soll man dem Guru eine goldene Scheibe darbringen, die Ravi (die Sonne) darstellt, begleitet von einer weiteren Dakṣiṇā.

Word by Word

• दक्षिणाम्: a donation/fee (dakṣiṇā)
• दक्षिणाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; दानकर्मणि कर्म

• नालिकेराणि: coconuts
• नालिकेराणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नालिकेर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; दानकर्मणि कर्म

• तेभ्यः: to them (to those Brahmins)
• तेभ्यः: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (4th/Dative), बहुवचन; सम्प्रदान (recipient)

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); अर्थः—having given

• गुरुम्: the teacher (guru)
• गुरुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; दानकर्मणि कर्म (आचार्यं/गुरुं)

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) — अनन्तरम्/तदनन्तरम्

• सौवर्णम्: golden
• सौवर्णम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सौवर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बिम्बम् विशेषयति

• तु: and/indeed
• तु: Sambandha/Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• रवेः: of the Sun
• रवेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रवि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (possessor)

• बिम्बम्: disc/image
• बिम्बम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बिम्ब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; दान/समर्पणकर्मणि कर्म

• युक्तम्: endowed/combined
• युक्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बिम्बम् विशेषयति—‘युक्तम्’ = endowed/connected

• दक्षिणया: with a donation (dakṣiṇā)
• दक्षिणया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; करणम्

• अन्यया: another/additional
• अन्यया: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘दक्षिणया’ विशेषणम्

Speaker

Narada (teaching in the Narada Purana’s instructional narrative, traditionally framed within Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Sarvāpti-vrata (continuation)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Ravi (Surya)

FAQs

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

It stresses dharmic completion of a rite through proper dakṣiṇā—honoring officiants and especially the Guru—so that the ritual’s merit is sealed with gratitude, purity, and right intention.

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

By emphasizing reverence to the Guru and sacred symbols (here, the Sun’s bimba), it shows bhakti expressed as humble service, giving, and honoring divine order through ritual offerings.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure) through specific prescriptions of dakṣiṇā and symbolic offerings, indicating how rites are properly concluded with stipulated gifts.