Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 22

द्वादशमासेषु अष्टमी-व्रत-कथनम्

Account of the Aṣṭamī Vow Across the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

निधाय प्रतिमां पात्रे ह्याचार्याय निवेदयेत् । दातव्या गौः सवत्सा च वस्त्रालंकारभूषिता ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

nidhāya pratimāṃ pātre hyācāryāya nivedayet | dātavyā gauḥ savatsā ca vastrālaṃkārabhūṣitā || 22 ||

Translation

Nachdem man das heilige Bildnis in ein geeignetes Gefäß gelegt hat, soll man es dem Ācārya feierlich darbringen. Ebenso ist eine Kuh samt Kalb zu schenken, geschmückt mit Gewändern und Schmuck.

Word by Word

• निधाय: having placed
• निधाय: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि+धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund) — ‘having placed/put down’

• प्रतिमाम्: the image/idol
• प्रतिमाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• पात्रे: in a vessel
• पात्रे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle) — emphasis/assurance

• आचार्याय: to the teacher/priest
• आचार्याय: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• निवेदयेत्: should offer/present
• निवेदयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि+विद् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘should present/offer’

• दातव्या: should be given
• दातव्या: Vidhi (विधि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/obligative); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate) agreeing with ‘गौः’ — ‘to be given/should be given’

• गौः: a cow
• गौः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• स-वत्सा: with a calf
• स-वत्सा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + वत्स (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण of ‘गौः’; बहुव्रीहि — ‘having a calf’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• वस्त्र-अलंकार-भूषिता: adorned with clothes and ornaments
• वस्त्र-अलंकार-भूषिता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अलंकार (प्रातिपदिक) + भूषित (कृदन्त; भूष् धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण of ‘गौः’; past participle ‘adorned’ with instruments implied

Speaker

Narada (in instructive discourse to the Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Acharya

FAQs

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

It teaches dāna as a dharmic act done with reverence—formally offering a consecrated image to the ācārya and supporting sacred life through go-dāna, emphasizing gratitude, purity of intent, and guru-sevā.

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

Bhakti is expressed through honoring the guru and sacred symbols: offering the pratimā respectfully and giving charitable gifts becomes a devotional service that supports worship, learning, and the continuity of dharma.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects ritual procedure (kalpa-oriented practice): correct presentation (nivedana), proper receptacle (pātra), and prescribed gifts (go-dāna with adornments) as part of regulated religious conduct.