Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

सोपवासो वैकभक्तो भोजयित्वा द्विजोत्तमान् । चतुर्द्दशततस्तेभ्यः शक्त्या दद्याच्च दक्षिणाम् ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

sopavāso vaikabhakto bhojayitvā dvijottamān | caturddaśatatastebhyaḥ śaktyā dadyācca dakṣiṇām || 3 ||

Translation

Unter Einhaltung von upavāsa (Fasten) und nur einer Mahlzeit soll man die Besten der Zweimalgeborenen (Brahmanen) speisen; danach gebe man ihnen nach Kräften eine dakṣiṇā (Ehrengabe) im Umfang von eintausendvierhundert (Einheiten).

Word by Word

• स-उपवासः: with fasting / fasting
• स-उपवासः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय) + उपवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; 'स' = सह (with) + उपवासः

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• एकभक्तः: eating once (a day)
• एकभक्तः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक + भक्त (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (one-meal observer)

• भोजयित्वा: having fed
• भोजयित्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: णिच्-प्रत्यय (causative) + क्त्वा (gerund): भोजयित्वा; अव्ययकृदन्त

• द्विजोत्तमान्: excellent Brahmins
• द्विजोत्तमान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• चतुर्दश: fourteen
• चतुर्दश: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Numerical qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्दश (संख्याशब्द/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याविशेषण (numeral adjective), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative) बहुवचनार्थे (implied with 'ततः')

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (ablatival adverb: 'thereafter/then')

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

• शक्त्या: according to ability
• शक्त्या: Karana (करण/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; 'यथाशक्ति' अर्थे

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction)

• दक्षिणाम्: a gift/fee (dakṣiṇā)
• दक्षिणाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta (narrating Narada Purana teachings; vrata/dāna injunction in the Narada tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Daśamī-vrata (continuation of Daśamī observance instructions)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Dvijottama (Brahmins)

FAQs

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

It frames vrata as a complete discipline: self-restraint (upavāsa/eka-bhakta), service (feeding worthy Brahmins), and generosity (dakṣiṇā), making austerity fruitful through dharma and dāna.

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

By prescribing fasting and charitable feeding, it channels personal restraint into offerings and service—core bhakti attitudes—where devotion is expressed through disciplined living and honoring sacred recipients.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual procedure and dāna-dakṣiṇā norms (kalpa-oriented practice) are implied: the vrata’s observances, proper feeding of qualified recipients, and giving ‘according to śakti’ as a regulated, scriptural act.