Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 55

The Account of the Ekādaśī Vow Observed Throughout the Twelve Months

Devanagari script

ततस्तां प्रतिमां हैमीं सधेनुं गुरवेऽर्पयेत् । एवं यः कुरुते भक्त्या बोधिनीव्रतमादृतः ॥ ५५ ॥

Transliteration

tatastāṃ pratimāṃ haimīṃ sadhenuṃ gurave'rpayet | evaṃ yaḥ kurute bhaktyā bodhinīvratamādṛtaḥ || 55 ||

Translation

Dann soll man jenes goldene Bildnis zusammen mit einer milchgebenden Kuh (sadhenu) dem Guru darbringen. Wer das Bodhinī-vrata auf diese Weise, in Hingabe und Ehrfurcht, vollzieht, erfüllt sein Gelübde wahrhaftig.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kāla/Anukrama (काल/अनुक्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रमसूचक (adverb: then)

• ताम्: that
• ताम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Feminine, Accusative, Singular)

• प्रतिमाम्: image/idol
• प्रतिमाम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Feminine, Accusative, Singular)

• हैमीम्: golden
• हैमीम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हैम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन — प्रतिमाम् विशेषण (Feminine, Accusative, Singular)

• स-धेनुम्: together with a cow
• स-धेनुम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (उपसर्गसदृश/सह) + धेनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सह-अर्थे तत्पुरुष (सधेनु = धेनुसहिताम्); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन — प्रतिमाम् विशेषण

• गुरवे: to the teacher
• गुरवे: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी एकवचन (Masculine, Dative, Singular)

• अर्पयेत्: should offer/donate
• अर्पयेत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्पय् (अर्प् causative) (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद (Optative, 3rd person, Singular)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: प्रकार (Prakāra/Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक (adverb: thus/in this manner)

• यः: who
• यः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• कुरुते: does/performs
• कुरुते: क्रिया (Kriyā/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद (Present, 3rd person, Singular, Ātmanepada)

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन (Feminine, Instrumental, Singular)

• बोधिनी-व्रतम्: the Bodhinī vow
• बोधिनी-व्रतम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बोधिनी (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (बोधिन्याः व्रतम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• आदृतः: reverent/with respect
• आदृतः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + दृ (धातु) → आदृत (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन — यः विशेषण (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a vrata-instruction context, traditionally within Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue flow)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Bodhinī-vrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Guru
• Bodhinī-vrata

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that a vrata is completed not only by personal austerity but also by reverent offering (dāna) to the guru—aligning ritual action with humility and devotion.

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

Bhakti is shown as practical and embodied: the devotee honors sacred observance (Bodhinī-vrata) with heartfelt reverence and expresses devotion through generous, respectful giving to the spiritual teacher.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

This verse chiefly highlights kalpa/ritual procedure (a Vedāṅga-linked domain): the prescribed concluding act of a vow—formal dāna to the guru—as part of correct vrata-performance.