Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 13

The Account of the Ekādaśī Vow Observed Throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

द्वादश्यां नैत्यिकं कृत्वा समभ्यर्च्य त्रिविक्रमम् । ततो द्विजाग्र्यान्संभोज्य दत्वा तेभ्यश्च दक्षिणाम् ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

dvādaśyāṃ naityikaṃ kṛtvā samabhyarcya trivikramam | tato dvijāgryānsaṃbhojya datvā tebhyaśca dakṣiṇām || 13 ||

Translation

Am Dvādaśī-Tag, nachdem man die täglichen Pflicht­handlungen vollzogen und Trivikrama (Viṣṇu) gebührend verehrt hat, soll man die Vornehmsten der Zweimalgeborenen (Brāhmaṇas) speisen und ihnen auch die vorgeschriebene Dakṣiṇā darbringen.

Word by Word

• dvādaśyām: on Dvādaśī (12th lunar day)
• dvādaśyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvādaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• naityikam: the daily rite
• naityikam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: naityika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); 'daily obligatory rite'

• kṛtvā: having done
• kṛtvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), from √कृ; indeclinable verbal form

• samabhyarcya: having duly worshipped
• samabhyarcya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-abhi-arc (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), from √अर्च् 'to worship' with prefixes सम्+अभि

• trivikramam: Trivikrama (Viṣṇu)
• trivikramam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: trivikrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); name of Viṣṇu

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय) meaning 'then/from there'

• dvija-agryān: the foremost Brahmins
• dvija-agryān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक) + agrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); karmadhāraya: 'agryāḥ dvijāḥ' (foremost Brahmins)

• saṃbhojya: having fed
• saṃbhojya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: saṃ-bhuj (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), from √भुज् with prefix सम्

• datvā: having given
• datvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), from √दा 'to give'

• tebhyaḥ: to them
• tebhyaḥ: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle (समुच्चय-अव्यय)

• dakṣiṇām: a gift/fee (honorarium)
• dakṣiṇām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dakṣiṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Ekādaśī observance—Dvādaśī completion (parāṇa context implied)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Trivikrama

FAQs

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

It presents Dvādaśī as the completion of devotional observance: daily dharma (naityika karma) is joined with Viṣṇu-worship and sealed by service to brāhmaṇas through feeding and dakṣiṇā, integrating bhakti, yajña-spirit, and dāna.

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

Bhakti here is expressed as disciplined worship of Trivikrama and reverent honoring of Viṣṇu’s devotees/representatives (dvijāgryas), showing that devotion is not only inner feeling but also ritual worship and compassionate giving.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual procedure) is implied: observing the lunar tithi (Dvādaśī), performing naityika duties, executing proper arcana (worship), and concluding with brāhmaṇa-bhojana and dakṣiṇā as a structured rite.