Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 2

Daśamī-vrata: Observances for the Bright Tenth Day Through the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

चैत्रशुक्लदशम्यां तु धर्मराजं प्रपूजयेत् । तत्कालसंभवैः पुष्पैः फलैर्गंधादिभिस्तथा ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

caitraśukladaśamyāṃ tu dharmarājaṃ prapūjayet | tatkālasaṃbhavaiḥ puṣpaiḥ phalairgaṃdhādibhistathā || 2 ||

Translation

Am hellen Daśamī (śukla) des Monats Caitra soll man Dharmarāja ordnungsgemäß verehren, mit Blumen, Früchten, Düften und weiteren Gaben, die zu jener Zeit saisonal verfügbar sind.

Word by Word

• चैत्रशुक्लदशम्याम्: on the bright tenth (Daśamī) of Caitra
• चैत्रशुक्लदशम्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time-location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चैत्र + शुक्ल + दशमी (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तिथ्यधिकरण

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (contrast/emphasis particle)

• धर्मराजम्: Dharmarāja (Yama)
• धर्मराजम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मराज (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• प्रपूजयेत्: should worship
• प्रपूजयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग: प्र-

• तत्कालसंभवैः: with those produced at that time/seasonal
• तत्कालसंभवैः: Karana (करण/Means)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तत् + काल + संभव (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषण (पुष्प-फल-आदि)

• पुष्पैः: with flowers
• पुष्पैः: Karana (करण/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• फलैः: with fruits
• फलैः: Karana (करण/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• गन्धादिभिः: with fragrances and the like
• गन्धादिभिः: Karana (करण/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध + आदि (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; 'आदि' = etc.

• तथा: also, likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: 'likewise/also')

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a dharma/vrata context within the Narada Purana’s dialogue framework)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Daśamī-vrata (Caitra-śukla Daśamī observance)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Dharmaraja
• Yama

FAQs

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

It links dharma to sacred time (Caitra Śukla Daśamī) and teaches that worship of Dharmarāja should be performed with purity and appropriateness, emphasizing ethical order and reverence for cosmic law.

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

It presents bhakti as practical and accessible: sincere worship using simple, seasonally available offerings (flowers, fruits, fragrances) rather than extravagance, showing devotion aligned with dharma.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Vedāṅga-based calendrical discipline—especially tithi observance (Daśamī in the Śukla pakṣa of Caitra)—a key ritual application connected with Jyotiṣa (traditional time-reckoning for rites).