Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 15

The Exposition of the Dvādaśī Vow for the Twelve Months

Dvādaśī-vrata-nirṇaya and Mahā-dvādaśī Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

वैशाखशुक्लद्वादश्यां सोपवासो जितेंद्रियः । संपूज्य माधवं भक्त्या गंधाद्यैरुपचारकैः ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

vaiśākhaśukladvādaśyāṃ sopavāso jiteṃdriyaḥ | saṃpūjya mādhavaṃ bhaktyā gaṃdhādyairupacārakaiḥ || 15 ||

Translation

Am hellen Dvādaśī (zwölften Tag) des Monats Vaiśākha soll man fasten, die Sinne bezwungen; und in Bhakti Mādhava vollständig verehren, mit Duftstoffen und anderen Opfergaben und Diensten.

Word by Word

• वैशाख-शुक्ल-द्वादश्याम्: on the bright twelfth of Vaiśākha
• वैशाख-शुक्ल-द्वादश्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण; time-locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैशाख (प्रातिपदिक) + शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वादशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; ‘वैशाखस्य शुक्लपक्षस्य द्वादशी’ इति

• स-उपवासः: fasting
• स-उपवासः: Visheshana (विशेषण; of implied agent)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्ग-सदृश) + उपवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; ‘उपवासेन सह’ (with fasting)

• जित-इन्द्रियः: self-controlled
• जित-इन्द्रियः: Visheshana (विशेषण; of implied agent)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जित (जि धातु, क्त कृदन्त) + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—यस्य इन्द्रियाणि जितानि सः

• सम्-पूज्य: having worshipped well
• सम्-पूज्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + पूज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having duly worshipped’

• माधवम्: Mādhava (Vishnu)
• माधवम्: Karma (कर्म; object of worship)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माधव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: Karana (करण; means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• गन्ध-आद्यैः: with perfumes and the like
• गन्ध-आद्यैः: Karana (करण; means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; ‘गन्धादि’ = perfumes etc.

• उपचारकैः: with (ritual) offerings/services
• उपचारकैः: Karana (करण; means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपचारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Dvādaśī-vrata (Vaiśākha śukla-dvādaśī) for Mādhava

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Madhava
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It frames Vaiśākha Śukla Dvādaśī as a disciplined devotional observance where fasting and sense-restraint support wholehearted worship of Mādhava, making ritual action an instrument of inner purification and devotion.

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

Bhakti is shown as active worship—approaching Mādhava with reverence, offerings, and attentive services (upacāras)—while maintaining self-control; devotion is expressed both inwardly (jitendriyatā) and outwardly (pūjā).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa-oriented ritual practice is implied: timing the observance on Dvādaśī, performing upavāsa, and offering prescribed upacāras like gandha (fragrance), reflecting applied dharma-ritual procedure rather than grammar or astronomy in this specific verse.