Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

नमस्कृत्याथ भुंजीत द्विजान्संभोज्य पूजितान् । एवं कृत्वा विधानं तु नरो वर्षं सुरवान्वितः ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

namaskṛtyātha bhuṃjīta dvijānsaṃbhojya pūjitān | evaṃ kṛtvā vidhānaṃ tu naro varṣaṃ suravānvitaḥ || 24 ||

Translation

Nachdem er ehrerbietig gegrüßt hat, soll er erst dann essen, nachdem er zuvor die Zweimalgeborenen (Brāhmaṇas) gespeist und geehrt hat. So das vorgeschriebene Ritual vollzogen, bleibt der Mensch ein Jahr lang mit himmlischen Segnungen versehen.

Word by Word

• नमस्कृत्य: having saluted
• नमस्कृत्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नमस् + कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), √कृ; ‘having done salutation’

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अनन्तरार्थक अव्यय (particle: then/now)

• भुञ्जीत: should eat
• भुञ्जीत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/Imperative sense), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष? actually 3rd person singular (प्रथमपुरुष एकवचन) / ‘should eat’

• द्विजान्: Brahmins (twice-born)
• द्विजान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन

• सम्भोज्य: having fed (them)
• सम्भोज्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + भुज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-तुल्य ल्यप्/य (absolutive/gerund), causative sense ‘having fed/entertained’; √भुज with उपसर्ग सम्

• पूजितान्: honoured
• पूजितान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: कृत (past passive participle, क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; qualifies ‘द्विजान्’

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb: thus/in this manner)

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), √कृ

• विधानम्: the prescribed procedure
• विधानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• वर्षम्: for a year
• वर्षम्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; कालावधि (duration)

• सुर-वान्वितः: accompanied by the gods
• सुर-वान्वितः: Karta-anuyāyin (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुर + अन्वित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (सुरैः अन्वितः = accompanied by gods); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; qualifies ‘नरः’

Speaker

Narada (instructional narration within ritual/procedure context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

Characters & Entities

• Dvija (Brahmanas)

FAQs

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

It teaches that a rite becomes spiritually complete when one shows humility (namaskāra) and supports dharma by feeding and honoring the dvijas; this seals the act with lasting merit, described here as divine benefit for a full year.

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

Bhakti is expressed not only through worship but through reverence and service to those dedicated to Vedic life; honoring the dvijas is treated as an extension of devotional discipline and sacred duty.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual procedure (kalpa-oriented vidhi) is emphasized: the correct sequence—salutation, brahmana-feeding, honoring, then one’s own meal—reflects disciplined observance central to vrata and pūjā practice.